5 Mental Health Programs Making a Difference for Black Youth America’s Black Holocaust Museum

Experiencing racism or bigotry causes trauma, which directly impacts mental health. Understanding the risk factors for Black adolescent suicide is crucial for prevention and intervention efforts. One in five Black LGBTQ+ youth have been physically threatened or harmed due to their sexual orientation. And Black youth are more frequently targets of discrimination and racism, whether on a personal or systemic level. Black teens face cultural challenges that can adversely impact mental health.

The Black Youth Helpline model was created by youth for youth.

For example, Jason’s mentor noted that they identified the “drivers and resisters” to self-motivation, which resulted in Jason appreciating how he could reach his desired goal of doing well in school by attending to his “locus of control.” Likewise, Hope’s parents explained that a major barrier to her perseverance was being easily distracted in school. Related to the idea of not quitting, middle and high school participants also learned about the power of “motivation” and the importance of setting desired goals to persist in school. ’ so, I breathed in and then my stomach stop hurting and I felt better.” Lilly also described a time when she felt frustrated in school due to not completely understanding her math assignment. The first subtheme reflects how the youth developed the capacity to persist and maintain motivation by using cognitive behavioral techniques (e.g., positive self-talk, deep breathing, and goal setting). To establish the credibility of this study, the research team used various trustworthiness strategies (Lincoln & Guba, 1985).

Common Feelings

Spirituality is also a huge hallmark of Black culture and is cited continually in the research literature as a strength that can be protective against mental health concerns. Drawing on individual strengths in treatment and incorporating the cultural responsivity that we talked about earlier can actually build up what individuals are already doing and make treatment more effective. The literature is mixed—however, the general theme is that youth of color experience more ACEs than White youth. That mistrust is rooted in key systemic issues; so, awareness of them by the provider could go a long way toward increasing patients’ collaboration around treatment. If that is the case, providers may have trouble engaging that parent and family in treatment.

Black youths are at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles than their non-Black peers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that suicide rates for Black youths (ages 10-24) rose significantly from 2018 to 2021. The 988 Lifeline is available to provide immediate counseling services when people need support. The suicide rate among Black youth is increasing faster than other racial or ethnic groups. By fostering these factors and providing access to resources and programs that promote resilience, we can support the mental well-being of Black adolescents.

Resources

• Dr. Okoya referenced the “Stages of Change” Model where people need to be in “pre-contemplation” mode before they can begin to take action.
• In this article, we review disparities in mental health service use among Black youths and discuss common clinical presentations of youths seeking treatment in outpatient treatment settings.
• For African American children and adolescents coping with the risk or reality of serious emotional disturbances, the world we live in can be a particularly painful and dangerous place.
• Taken together, the 3 standards of practice described here—using a sociocultural framework, exercising flexibility in one’s assigned role, and understanding and incorporating culturally specific strengths and protective factors into care—embedded within a critical conceptualization of ecological systems theory, highlight the ongoing need for systemic mental health treatment reform at all ecological levels and challenge epistemological assumptions that are central to treatment environments as they currently stand.
• If Black youth speak loudly, that’s often falsely perceived as aggression, Omole said, noting that’s something she’s personally observed in the hospital where she works.

The Diana Award was founded on the late Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change their community, their country and the world. UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. It’s time for policymakers, professionals and planners to listen to young people; to acknowledge the impacts of institutional racism on mental health; and to act on it so that future generations can enjoy better mental health.” The report calls for cross-government action to tackle racism and its effects on young people’s mental health. The young people learned the skills necessary to lead social action projects, and conducted both local and national campaigns to create change.

LFCS recognizes the impact that mental health conditions have within the African American communities in Missouri. Since 2018, the rate for Black youth has surged by 54%, compared to a 17% decrease for White youth. This is significantly lower than the 52% of non-Hispanic Whites who sought care. In this case, ARTE engages young people to amplify their voices and organize for human rights change through the visual arts — using National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month art, design, and technology. Art and Resistance Through Education’s main commitment is to provide a quality human rights education that informs students about the frameworks that exist to protect their rights and the rights of others.