Community Gardening for Cultural Food Security and Mental Wellbeing: A Mixed Methods Research with Newcomer Youth and Seniors in Canada

Studies that have evaluated the interconnection between mental health and food insecurity in immigrants have focused mainly on the general immigrant population, with limited to no studies focusing on high risk groups such as immigrant youths with past trauma experiences and immigrant seniors. This project aims to address these knowledge gaps, investigating the experiences of these high risk groups of mental health, food insecurity and the services that address these social determinants but with a special interest in exploring how community gardens can be utilized as places to support land-based and intergenerational mental health and food security support services.

1. What are the experiences of high-risk immigrant groups related to mental health and food insecurity?
2. Are there interconnections between dietary changes due to immigration and the wellbeing of high-risk immigrants in Canada?
3. When considering the role of culturally familiar food, intergeneral knowledge exchange, and land-based healing practices, what unique functions and benefits do community gardens provide for high-risk immigrant groups?

Informed by the principles of community-based participatory research, land-based practices, and the eco-social model, this project will adopt a mixed methods research approach. The study will draw from the eco-social model to explore systemic and environmental factors that contribute to inequitable social and health outcomes in relation to mental health and food insecurity in high-risk immigrant populations. Eco-social theory enables us to explore the interconnected pathways through which inequities and social injustice occur to contribute to the occurrence of mental health and food insecurity in the populations of study.

• Population-based analysis to inform policy and practice

The project is ongoing. Multiple datasets are currently being analysed. Qualitative data collection and engagement with community partners are also underway. Several outputs and publications are in progress.

Publications:

Onyango, E., Mori, K., Fernandez, S., Seyyedin, B., Chinedu-Asogwa, N., & Kapfunde, D. (2025). Cultural relevance of food security initiatives and the associated impacts on the cultural identity of immigrants in Canada: A scoping review of food insecurity literature. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 100269.

Onyango, E., Mori, K., Jirel, B., & Otoadese, D. (2025). The food (in) security and mental health nexus in high-risk immigrant populations in middle-and high-income countries: A scoping review. Social Science & Medicine, 118185.

Zinaic, R., Correa, T., Etowa, E., Owolabi, R., Bhatt, Y., & Wong, J. P.-H. (2025). Exploring the impact of community gardens and community kitchens on mental health: A scoping review. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 100263.

Otoadese, D., Kamara, I., & Onyango, E. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to engagement in collective gardening among Black African immigrants in Alberta, Canada. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(5), 789.

Past events and conferences: 

• “Spaces of Growth, Sites of (In)Equity: Rethinking Community Gardens in Toronto,” presented by T. Rahman & C. Martin at the Bridging Divides Research Retreat, October 9, 2025.
• “Results of a scoping review on ‘Impact of Community Gardens on Mental Health,’” presented by R. Zinaic at the Bridging Divides Scholars of Excellence Workshop – Mental Health for All: Global is Local, Toronto, Canada, May 7, 2025.
• “Roundtable on ‘Community Gardens & Community Kitchens for Mental Health Promotion,’” presented at the Bridging Divides Scholars of Excellence Workshop – Mental Health for All: Global is Local, Toronto, Canada, May 7, 2025.
• “TRS 1.2 Community Gardening for Cultural Food Security and Mental Wellbeing of Immigrants,” presented by S. Odhiambo at the Bridging Divides Research Discovery Retreat, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, June 11–13, 2025.
• “Food security and mental health nexus: The experiences of high-risk immigrant youth in Canada,” presented by S. Odhiambo, D. Akateh, J. Wong, S. Yohani, E. Saewyc, & E. Onyango at the Black Child and Youth Conference, May 8, 2025.
• “The food (in)security and mental health nexus in high-risk immigrant populations in middle- and high-income countries: A scoping review,” presented by Y. Bhatt at the Bridging Divides Research Dialogue Series, February 6, 2025.
• Project presentation by S. Odhiambo at the Bridging Divides Spring Social Event, Edmonton, Canada, April 30, 2025.
• “Engagement of African Immigrants in Municipal and Community Initiatives to Address Food Insecurity,” presented by O. Mori at the 27th Biennial CESA Conference, November 15, 2024.
• “Cultural Food Insecurity in Diverse Ethnocultural Immigrant Communities in Edmonton, Alberta,” presented by E. Onyango, K. Mori, & S. Odhiambo at the 27th Biennial CESA Conference, November 14, 2024.
• “Cultivating Wellbeing: The Influence of Community Gardens on the Mental Health and Cultural Preservation among Afro-diasporic communities in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,” presented by T. Mensah at the Winter Holiday Social Event, December 18, 2024.

Community-based participatory research; community garden; food insecurity; high-risk immigrants; mental health