Researching inequality and its impacts

Claire Benny

When Claire Benny was a graduate student living in Vancouver, she noticed the economic disparity between the different parts of the city in which she lived and worked. These experiences, combined with what she was learning in her studies, compelled her to look further into the harm caused by income disparity, particularly in youth.

Claire shared her research with alumni of the master of health services administration program, the graduate program that paved the way for the creation of the School of Public Health, at their celebration event in September. Following the event, she spoke to us about how her experiences influenced her research direction and how income inequality and related policies could be addressed to support mental health.

What led you to conduct research in public health? 

I was really interested in research because things that are measurable make sense to me. Over time, I’ve also developed a passion for social justice and equity so public health is the right space for me to focus on inequity from a population-health lens.

Why this particular line of research?

During my first year in Vancouver I lived in a wealthy neighbourhood. It was awesome, but I didn't feel a sense of community. I grew up in Prince George, B.C., and am used to knowing everyone around me. In my second year in Vancouver, I lived in a different neighbourhood that had a little bit more community, but I noticed differences in the way people reacted to me. I thought, “Oh, this is what it feels like [to experience income inequality] as a privileged person, in the sense that I'm a student and able to attend school.” I also did some work on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, so I was very in tune with what was going on in terms of income inequities within the city. 

When I was applying to PhD programs things weren't going well in my hometown. There had been a number of suicide attempts and suicides at my younger brother's school within a span of a few months. My brother was in high school at the time and he asked me, “Why don't the schools do something?” Initially I told him that their hands were tied, but then I thought, “Well, why don’t they do something?” I realized maybe I could contribute evidence that could help support schools in higher-disparity areas. That's why I started researching income inequality and student mental health.

I became interested in the income inequality work conducted by Roman Pabayo, who eventually became my supervisor. I decided to focus specifically on the mental health and deaths of despair in young people because of what was happening in my own hometown. 

Who have you worked with?

I've been able to cast a wide net and make a lot of connections. In addition to working with Roman and Paul Veugelers, my co-supervisor, I’ve worked with Elaine Hyshka, Shelby Yamamoto and Sentil Senthilselvan from the School. I’ve also worked with colleagues from Eastern Canada and New York. 

I was lucky enough to participate in a Cochrane Systematic Review — the gold standard for systematic reviews and for evidence worldwide — on unconditional cash transfers in lower and middle income countries, and how that impacts people's health. One of the colleagues I worked with on that systematic review was Frank Pega, an epidemiologist and health economist with the World Health Organization.

What does your research suggest on how to address income inequality and related health issues?

There are two schools of thought on the issue of income inequity: We can give people money or we can take it away. Both of these options are met with uncertainty, however there is some evidence that suggests giving people money without conditions attached is beneficial for these individuals.  

Knowing that, the number 1 way I can address income inequality in schools and other spaces based on my research findings is to allocate more resources for mental health and drug prevention and harm reduction to schools where the risk is higher. 

I believe that’s one way that we can alleviate the crises associated with poor mental health. Additionally, we can go further upstream and try to alleviate income inequality by increasing minimum wage or increasing taxes for those with higher incomes.

What do you most want people to know about your research? 

I want people to know that when we're designing policies or making decisions for other people, we need to understand who's going to benefit and who's reaping the rewards of these policies. I think more policies should be evaluated to see how they affect people differently because everyone is different.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently doing a postdoctoral fellowship at Public Health Ontario to determine how Canada's guidance on alcohol and health can protect those who are most vulnerable.