Providing mental health support for children of color more important than ever

Society is rapidly changing, and children of color in school today face pressures I never had to worry about when I was growing up. The mental health of children is more important now than ever. With Covid 19, the nation’s political/racial unrest, school shootings (which have become a sad norm), on top of the stresses that come with life and wanting to return to school, and the wanting to fitting in, the probability of students suffering from mental health crises is at an all time high.

With the start of this school year, considering the anticipation and anxiety that this big day brings kids who return to school, I couldn’t help but to think about the kids returning to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and their mental health. It feels like yesterday when 19 students and two teachers were fatally shot. The feeling of setting foot back into the school, let alone the classrooms where so many of their peers and teachers lost their lives is probably overwhelming. Then there are the children that may be too traumatized or afraid to ever return to school. The grief and sadness of that day reverberated across America. It’s understandable many kids that didn’t attend Robb Elementary may of been left with a fear of attending their own school out of concern for their safety. Parents can certainly relate to that feeling, but kids’ mental health sometimes are ignored and their voices are unheard — or even purposely silenced.

Disclaimer, I am not a mental health provider and the advice that follows is given by professionals. I highly suggest if anyone is in need of help to seek out a professional.

Many parents worry about the negative influences that their child may be exposed to. Being young can be hard enough; grades, hormones, and life choices can impact the mental health of any child. For Black students there is an extra level of stress. The many police shootings of Blacks: Travon Martin, George Floyd, the Buffalo Massacre, books being removed from schools and libraries because of politicized concerns about “Critical Race Theory,” and the many “Karen” videos that kids may see or experience on social media… the list of racial stress for children seems endless. This has to be addressed.

Black children are more likely to commit suicide or have suicidal thoughts. Recent reports also indicate higher anxiety and depression for Black students. In the Black community, mental health crises are at an all time high, especially among kids between ages 5-11. The suicide rate of these Black children has doubled and far exceeds any ethnic group, according to the California Department of Health. Suicide was also the second leading cause of death of Blacks between ages 15-24 in the U.S. in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Health.

Depression and anxiety are still rarely openly discussed in the Black community, and seeking help from a professional mental health remains stigmatized. Mental health stigma is associated with all racial and ethnic groups, but blacks are dying at a disproportionately high rate due to their mental health.

In light of this sobering data, I believe it’s important to teach Black children at schools through resources like counseling, or at home, that it’s okay to speak to someone about their feelings. Unfortunately, Black children are about half as likely as White children to receive mental health treatment. If you’re a person of color, ask yourself would you or your family suggest therapy? There is a demand in mental health services, especially health providers of color, or those that can identify with kids of color. Only 4% of psychologists in the U.S. workforce were Black/African American in 2019, compared to 86% of psychologists that were White. In my opinion, there should be more providers that can identify with issues Black children face, and offer more mental health counseling on site at school to Black children.

Early in life, Black children ponder their identity, their beauty standards, strength, and sense of belonging. Even as adults some of us have a hard time asking for help, and voicing a problem or voicing if they are not okay. According to Psychologists, this is no different for children. Studies show that people of color are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to seek out services, less likely to receive needed care, and more likely to receive poor quality of care.

Here are some pointers from psychologists to help you with your child’s mental health are:

First, its ok for your child to say, “I’m not okay.”
Be open to therapy and psychological counseling (try not to be negative around your child about therapy, this will create more stigmas)
Seek help with professionals as soon as possible
Remember, its ok to ask your child questions like, “Are you okay?”
Promote the development of open communication
Communicate with your child’s teachers, counselors, and principal
Encourage positive reinforcement
Let them know that failures are normal
Watch out for any behavioral changes
Just listen (let your child communicate without talking or any interjection)

It’s important in all communities, but especially people of color to stop stigmatizing therapy and seek out help. More and more children are dying by their own hand, and especially Black children. There are stressors happening in the world that as adults we can not control, and children are also seeing, hearing and experiencing some of the stressors that life brings. They are the future and they need as much help and care that can be given.

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide or dealing with a mental health crisis, please call 1-800-273-8255 for help.