Scholars: Institutional Racism a Mental Health Issue For Black Youth and Families
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.
Some behavioral problems in Black youths can be attributed to their effort to protect themselves from racism, and is a “manifestation of depression,” one researcher told a panel at the seventh annual Diversity Challenge Conference at Boston College.
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Yes. I think just as surviving racism has been shown to be a cause of high blood pressure in African American women I have seen surviving racism and sexism a mental health factor for men and women of color. It can cause depression and anxiety certainly. I have seen studies and experienced that even talking about racial issues can be stressful (determined by immediate rise in blood pressure) for all people but is even more stressful for the victims/survivors of the greatest amount of racism — African Americans and Latinos than it is for Whites.
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Thank you for spotlighting such a critical issue. Aberrant behavioral manifestations, no matter what the origin or discomfort in addressing it, is an inherent responsibility of individuals and groups in the field of mental health and education to examine concurrently. Our young need help in understanding why they [sometimes] behave counter-productively. There are serious strains of sociological and psychological defects in a number of Black families/communities. Their offspring become our inheritances. As they evolve towards the self-identity process as well as their self-actualization process, they need our help. Your mission is very necessary. I salute you and join you in your undertaking. Continued dialogue!
C.H.A.