%0 Journal Article %A Sandra Maureen Marquis %A Kimberlyn McGrail %A Michael Hayes %T Mental health of parents of children with a developmental disability in British Columbia, Canada %D 2020 %R 10.1136/jech-2018-211698 %J Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health %P 173-178 %V 74 %N 2 %X Background There is evidence in the literature that parents of children who have a developmental disability experience an increased risk of mental health problems.Methods This study used population-level administrative data from the Ministry of Health, British Columbia, Canada, to assess the mental health of parents of children who have a developmental disability compared with the mental health of parents of children who do not have a developmental disability. Population-level and individual explanatory variables available in the data were included in the models.Results At a population level, the study found strong evidence that parents of children who have a developmental disability experience higher odds of depression or other mental health diagnoses compared with parents of children who do not have a developmental disability. Age of the parent at birth of the child, income and location of healthcare services were all associated with outcomes.Conclusion Parents of children who have a developmental disability may be in need of programmes and services that support their mental health. %U https://jech.bmj.com/content/jech/74/2/173.full.pdf