Voices Unheard:
Canada’s First National Health Survey of Black Women and Girls
About the Report
The Voices Unheard report is a call to action. For the first time in Canadian history, nearly 2,000 Black women, girls, and gender-diverse people shared their lived experiences across the social determinants of health, from accessing healthcare to navigating mental wellness, employment, education, and more.
This report does not just highlight disparities. It amplifies truth, names systemic harm, and presents bold recommendations for real change.
Read the full report and witness the power of collective testimony.
Explore the Sub Reports
In addition to the national survey findings, we conducted deeper dives into two critical areas of health access and experience.
Black Healthcare Workers in the GTA
This sub-report centres the voices of Black women and gender-diverse people working within healthcare systems across the Greater Toronto Area. It reveals the emotional and physical toll of navigating anti-Black racism in their professions while attempting to care for others.
From institutional gaslighting to burnout and barriers to advancement, this report captures the paradox of being both caregiver and survivor in a system not built for you.
Private Health Insurance Access for Black Women in Canada
This sub-report examines the inequities Black women face in accessing private health insurance across the country. It lays bare how employment precarity, underinsurance, and exclusion from employer benefits intersect with race, gender, and income to create dangerous gaps in care.
The findings expose an often overlooked barrier to wellness and offer critical recommendations to reshape how benefits are distributed and accessed.
Whose Health Counts?
A Profile of Black Women’s Experiences in Canada
Dive Deeper into the Data
Want to explore the data for yourself? We’ve created an interactive portal where you can dig into the full range of survey results. This transparency is part of our commitment to community accountability, advocacy, and collective knowledge. Visit the portal to explore the full Voices Unheard dataset.