Promoting Positive Mental Health Outcomes for Black Youth
On a recent podcast episode, Dr. Danielle Busby, a clinical psychologist, shared her organization's latest release that she co-authored, the Healing Racial Stress Workbook for Black Teens: Skills to Help You Manage Emotions, Resist Racism, and Feel Empowered, which provides mental health resources for both parents and teenagers. The workbook offers numerous activities, exercises, and coping strategies to help Black teens manage racial stress while promoting positive self-esteem.
According to The AAKOMA Project's State of Mental Health for Youth of Color 2022 report, mental health disorders are prevalent among Black youth, with over half experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, only 22.3% of those who needed help received treatment or counseling. Additionally, 20% of Black youth reported exposure to racial trauma often or very often in their lifetime. [1]
Racial trauma, defined as "the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes” [2] is linked to poor mental health outcomes, including depression in youth. Experiences of racial trauma can be direct or indirect, such as viewing an racist incident on social media. Racial trauma is a stressor for Black youth.
To support the mental health of Black teenagers experiencing racial trauma, parents can play a key role. Below are three tips adapted from our conversation with Dr. Busby for parents and teens.
Talk about it. Have ongoing, honest conversations about experiences with racism. The experiences that your child has may be things that have happened to them or what they’ve seen, read or heard about in the media. Consider utilizing resources such as the Healing Racial Stress Workbook for Black Teens, books or seeking professional help if necessary to help start the conversation.
Meet children where they are. Some teens are open to having conversations about the topic while others may not be ready or not know how what to say. Be patient, ask questions and listen. Validate their experiences and feelings. Reassure them that you love and support them and will be there for them when they are ready to talk.
Seek counseling or treatment with a health or mental health professional for your teen if they are experiencing symptoms such as anxiety or depression
It’s important that we address the effects of racial stress on Black youth so that we can work towards promoting positive mental health outcomes for Black youth.
Additional Resources:
The Skin We’re In: Teaching Our Children to Be Emotionally Strong, Socially Smart and Spiriturally Connected by Jane Victoria Ward, Ed.D.
References:
Alfiee Breland-Noble and The AAKOMA Project, Inc. (2022). The AAKOMA Project’s State of Mental Health for Youth of Color, Executive Summary, 2022. Arlington, VA: The AAKOMA Project. Accessed May 8, 2022. https://aakomaproject.org/somhyoc2022/
Mental Health America (n.d.). Racism and Mental Health. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://mhanational.org/racism-and-mental-health