title: Are there mental health differences between francophone and non-francophone populations in manitoba?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Francophones may experience poorer health due to social status, cultural differences in lifestyle and attitudes, and language barriers to health care. Our study sought to compare mental health indicators between Francophones and non-Francophones living in the province of Manitoba.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two populations were used: one from administrative datasets housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and the other from representative survey samples. The administrative datasets contained data from physician billings, hospitalizations, prescription drug use, education, and social services use, and surveys included indicators on language variables and on self-rated health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outside urban areas, Francophones had lower rates of diagnosed substance use disorder (rate ratio [RR] = 0.80; 95% CI 0.68 to 0.95) and of suicide and suicide attempts (RR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.79), compared with non-Francophones, but no differences were found between the groups across the province in rates of diagnosed mood disorders, anxiety disorders, dementia, or any mental disorders after adjusting for age, sex, and geographic area. When surveyed, Francophones were less likely than non-Francophones to report that their mental health was excellent, very good, or good (66.9%, compared with 74.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The discrepancy in how Francophones view their mental health and their rates of diagnosed mental disorders may be related to health seeking behaviours in the Francophone population. Community and government agencies should try to improve the mental health of this population through mental health promotion and by addressing language and cultural barriers to health services.
authors.affiliation: Research Scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Mariette Jeanne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chartier
authors.affiliation: Research Scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.affiliation: Data Analyst, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.affiliation: Research Coordinator, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Kari-Lynne
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mcgowan
authors.affiliation: Data Analyst, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Data Analyst, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walld
authors.affiliation: Graduate Student, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Janelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Rocquigny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data