Over the course of our work on Black youth mental health promotion, we learned several key lessons that may help the public health community address the growing public health crisis of youth mental health and mental health inequities experienced by Black youth.

1. The imperative need to invest in the mental health of Black youth exposed to community violence and racism

2. The importance of addressing institutional racism to improve youth mental health

3. The promise and opportunity build on community strengths to promote youth mental health

In one study, we found that schools – which are traditionally conceptualized as supportive environments for cultivating youth development – may also serve as a source of racial stress and trauma for Black youth exposed to community violence. Black youth are exposed to interpersonal and institutional racism in schools including microaggressions from teachers and peers. The additional compounded stress from these experiences can reduce resilience among youth exposed to violence, and contribute to poor mental health. As such, it is pivotal for schools to prioritize the mental health needs of youth exposed to violence and to explicitly address racism in schools. We are excited to partner with schools in our Link for Equity project to work towards promoting the mental health of youth of color exposed to trauma.

In another study, we found that Black youth exposed to community violence recommend multiple sectors work together to address community violence, recognizing the structural nature of this persistent problem. In this study Black youth with lived experience of community violence highlighted the need for greater responsiveness and protection from schools and law enforcement, increased capacity to address mental health needs in the community, and attention to how racism contributes to experiences of violence in their communities. Building on this study, we partnered with Black youth to better understand the intersection of racism and community violence and priorities for social action through a method called photovoice. Through their photography, artwork, and critical dialogue, Black youth identified the need to recognize the role of historical trauma and anti-Black racism and address these intersecting problems through promoting Black history knowledge as well as cultural and community strengths*. We are excited to continue partnering with youth to work on an awareness campaign and to increase community capacity to promote youth mental health through our SPARCS in Community project.

Findings from these studies highlight youth mental health as a complex issue requiring multilevel solutions that address structural risk factors, nurture cultural and community protective factors, and build community capacity to address mental health.

Racial trauma psychoeducation: This hand-out defines racial trauma; describes its sources, examples, and reactions; and outlines possible coping strategies.

Undocumented Latinx immigrant families’ mental health awareness: This community report describes our findings on the stressors and amplified mental health inequities faced by mixed-status and undocumented Latinx families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Woods-Jaeger BA, Hampton-Anderson J, Christensen K, Miller T, O’Connor P, Berkley-Patton J. School-based racial microaggressions: A barrier to resilience among African American adolescents exposed to trauma. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. 2022;14(S1):S23-S31. doi:10.1037/tra0001091

Woods-Jaeger B, Berkley-Patton J, Piper KN, O’Connor P, Renfro TL, Christensen K. Mitigating Negative Consequences of Community Violence Exposure: Perspectives From African American Youth. Health Affairs. 2019;38(10):1679-1686. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00607

Woods-Jaeger, B, Knutzen, K, Lucas, D, Cave, N, Latimer, S, Adams, A, Bates, A, & Renfro, TL. Anti-Racist Violence Prevention: Partnering with Black Youth to Identify Intervention Priorities (under review)*.