The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be a challenging time for hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. While the coronavirus has certainly taken a toll on the mental health of countless individuals in the United States, it has been particularly damaging for Black teens whose mental health struggles during the pandemic are only exacerbated by the racial injustice that these teens have faced and witnessed at alarming rates this year.
As a result, Black teens are experiencing higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide than other racial groups.
While this problem cannot be solved overnight, you can make a difference by actively seeking to understand the unique challenges facing Black teens and helping these teens find the mental health support they need to survive.
Factors influencing mental health in Black teens
The events of 2020 have been especially rough for teens of color. Here are some of the factors that have negatively impacted the mental health of Black teens this year:
The disproportionate risk for COVID-19
Due to factors from systemic racism to social injustice to a lack of health clinics and resources, the Black community is at an increased risk for COVID-19. This means that Black teens are more likely to either suffer from COVID or know someone who has suffered from COVID than many of their non-Black peers, increasing the likelihood that these Black teens will experience stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.
Racial injustice
Black teens have had to witness police violence and racial injustice at disturbing rates this year, from George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests to the death of Breonna Taylor and countless other tragedies, Black teens have taken on the mental and emotional burden that comes from experiencing and witnessing racial injustice as well as realizing that not everyone feels that their lives are valuable.
Lack of validation
On top of the events that have contributed to mental health struggles plaguing many Black teens, invalidation has also played a significant role. There are many experiences, like racism, that Black teens face only for their feelings to be dismissed or ignored when they mention them to their peers or even the adults in their lives.
When people are not willing to accept that systemic racism exists or that there are challenges that are unique to the Black community, it makes Black teens question their own emotions and experiences, further adding to their struggle.
For instance, when a teen says, “Hearing the news about George Floyd made me feel upset and angry,” only to be met with a dismissive statement like “You shouldn’t feel that way, he was no saint,” it will only heighten their already highly sensitive emotions and cause more harm.
Providing mental health support for Black teens
If you are the parent of a Black teen or there are Black teens in your life, it is important that you understand the issues burdening their mental health and find ways to help alleviate the stress and anxiety they are feeling.
Here are a few elements of DBT that you can consider when trying to support Black teens:
Validation: Far too often, Black teens’ experiences with racism and other factors that affect their mental health are dismissed, downplayed, or denied. Make sure you validate your teen’s emotions and experiences.
Support: It is especially important for Black teens to feel like they are supported during this time. Take time to help them identify their strengths and remind them that they are valued and that you are always in their corner.
Mindfulness: Provide opportunities for teens to practice mindfulness, even in small ways. Creating art, journaling and physical activity are great resources to create space for processing emotions and experiences.
Emotion regulation: While this is a tool that your teen will work on with their therapist, you can help by encouraging your teen to identify and label their emotions. This will help them take steps toward healthy emotion regulation.
Keep these factors in mind, and you will be on track toward helping support the mental health of the Black teens in your life.