A Comparative Analysis of Anti-Black Racism and Mental Health Policies in Prairie Provinces and School Boards

Black children and youth constitute 41.9% of Canada's Black population. Their frequent encounters with anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in schools contribute to disproportionately poor mental health outcomes. Given the rapid growth of the Black population in Western Canada, it is critical to understand how educational policies in this region address anti-Black racism and mental health inequities.

We conducted a systematic document search, reviewing government websites of the three Prairie provinces and four major school boards, selected based on size and demographic diversity. Data were extracted by one researcher and independently validated by another. The Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis framework guided our content and narrative analysis.

A total of 29 documents, consisting of provincial (n = 18) and school-board (n = 11) policies were included. Only two documents (6.9%), one from Manitoba and the other from Edmonton Public Schools, recognized anti-Black racism as a determinant of mental health outcomes in schools. Policy documents predominantly employ broad, race-neutral language, showing a pervasive reliance on universal access models for mental health supports. Attention to culturally responsive care was highly limited; only five provincial documents referenced Afrocentric perspectives (e.g., Black histories or cultural recognition). Though school board commitments were comparatively stronger, they remained highly uneven.

Existing policies render the unique needs of Black children and youth largely invisible. This policy silence, coupled with an over-reliance on race-neutral frameworks, creates significant equity gaps and sustains health disparities. Systemic reform is urgently required to embed anti-Black racism acknowledgment and culturally responsive care directly within school mental health frameworks.