Introduction: The implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in novel changes to daily life. Pandemic related social isolation, a lack of stimulating social interactions, loss of income and job security have adversely affected the mental health of the general population. Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance use disorders and suicide have become more prevalent. Individuals that migrate to new countries, such as Canada, already face countless stressors that predispose them to developing psychopathologies. Loss of support systems and a sense of belonging, language barriers, cultural and social differences, diminished access to healthcare and financial insecurity are some of them. COVID-19 specific challenges have further intensified concerns about the mental health of this population. The objective of this literature review is to identify the current research available about the obstacles unique to new immigrants in accessing mental health resources to inform the further development of mental health related prevention and management strategies.

Method: “PubMed “ and “PsychInfo“ were used to conduct a literature search using the search terms “COVID-19”, “Sars-CoV-2”, “pandemic”, “corona”, “mental health”, “stress”, “immigrants”, “newcomer”, “social isolation”, “resources”, “barriers”, “challenges” and “obstacles”. Only articles published in English between November 1st 2019 to May 25th 2021 were considered. Duplicated publications and those not pertaining to the subject matter were removed. 1014 publications met partial search criteria, 20 of which related directly to the topic of interest. To identify the currently available resources to these individuals, a manual internet search was conducted.

Results: This pandemic has disproportionately affected the health of new immigrants. Reduced access to healthcare, pandemic related lockdowns reducing in-person care, need for digital literacy to access online resources and better English or French language skills to take part in telephone based consultations and advice sessions have added to their barriers to accessing mental health resources. Available resources are the same or similar to those that have been listed for the general Canadian population and do not account for unique challenges faced by immigrants both within and outside the COVID-19 context. Additionally, most resources were available only in English and French. In order to develop mental health resources that are useful and accessible to the immigrant population, it is vital that there is a clear focus on understanding their pre-existing challenges such as language needs, cultural contexts, and socio-economic status. COVID era related challenges including low digital literacy and unfamiliarity with distant healthcare options (telehealth) should also be considered. Collaborating with individuals from this population will allow for a greater understanding and increase the efficacy of the interventions.

Conclusion: Many articles have been published recently on COVID-19 and its impact on mental health in the general population. However, only a few of them address the mental health needs and specific challenges faced by new immigrants in this era. The mental health and wellness of new immigrants needs to be highlighted and the aforementioned suggestions should be used to inform the development of resources tailored to the new immigrant population.