How Racism and Trauma Impact Youth Mental Health

Neglect and abuse in childhood are strongly linked to poor health outcomes later in life. Learn why racism and community trauma pose similar risks.

The scope of what the behavioral health field recognizes as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) should be expanded to include the impact of growing up with the toxic stress caused by racism, discrimination, collective trauma and community violence says clinician and educator Rashida Fisher, PhD. Listen in as she talks with Hazelden Betty Ford mental health clinician Princess Drake, PhD, about conditions that promote toxic stress among young people of color.

“We have ancillary research that shows the experiences of racism and discrimination, experiencing minority stress, experiencing historical trauma or the collective trauma of a community can cause people to develop symptoms of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety and PTSD,” Fisher explains. “So including those factors in our understanding of ACEs for young people of color and indigenous youth is important.”

Fisher emphasizes the need for young people to experience safety and stability in their lives and cautions against assuming young people can “bounce back” on their own from trauma, adversity or violence. Resilience is developed and nurtured through care and support.

[gottafigureitout]

Not all avoidant behaviour is meant to cause harm on others. I'm not racist or mean. I just avoid watching movies cause they are mostly centered around white people, in Europe or America and white culture. I relate to none of tthat and am way past the age of being amused by it. That isn't racism at all so people need to be more sensible. May Jesus Christ bless you all.