When it comes to finding a mental health professional, parents need an expansive list of options. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health issues, remind yourself that these are normal reactions during upheaval. Whether you’re struggling with a mental illness, experiencing a mental health crisis for the first time, or feeling overwhelmed by recent events, therapy can serve as a valuable tool for your mental health. Race-based trauma can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD, and repeat exposure to race-based trauma puts Black communities at higher risk for psychological distress. Also, the Black Youth Project provides a safe space for young Black people to speak for themselves about the issues that concern them.

Community Level

Youth, families, schools and other mainstream organizations have a culturally appropriate resource they turn to for related support. The BYH approach brings innovative, professional, culturally relevant perspectives to understanding and addressing the root causes of challenges faced by children, youth and families. There was a significant mental health burden for Black adolescents in the sample, both those receiving treatment and those without treatment. Though this study contributes significantly to the literature on mental health among Black adolescents, there are limitations that should be acknowledged. With the numbers of Black adolescents who have sub-clinical symptom presentations, it is possible that current assessment tools do not adequately capture the language and manifestation of their mental health symptoms/experiences (e.g. depression manifesting as anger and not sadness; Jones et al., 2020). Because untreated mental health problems in adolescence can have serious repercussions for a youth’s life trajectory, these findings are important for promoting the health equity of Black adolescents.

From assembly slides and class activities, to art projects and fundraising resources, we’ve got lots of resources and activities to help you get involved during the week. Make sure you get your hands on Place2Be’s official free Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 resources! Mental health problems in youth often go hand-in-hand with other health and behavioral risks like increased risk of drug use, experiencing violence, and higher risk sexual behaviors that can lead to HIV, STDs and unintended pregnancy. Poor mental health in adolescence is more than feeling blue. These data bring into focus the level of distress many students are experiencing.

Mental wellbeing in Black youth

• Due to the scarcity of research focused on e-mentoring among school-age youth, additional research is needed to determine how e-mentoring can be structured to produce desired youth outcomes.
• “It’s about taking care of our next generation. I feel really inspired by this program.”
• Regarding race/ethnicity, the mentors primarily incorporated books and imagery that centered Black and Brown characters when supporting elementary-aged participants.
• America’s young Black people are struggling more than most.
• This can lead to Black children receiving less emotional support than white children, which can in turn increase the risk of depression, stress, and suicidality.

In Black youth, however, the opposite was true; one 2015 study found that Black youth with highly educated parents had higher depression and higher perceived lifetime discrimination scale ratings. The racist mutigenerational wealth gap also continues to harm Black youth and families, playing an undeniable role in the declining mental health of Black youth. As Black children age into adolescence, like all children, their social and cognitive abilities increase, including abstract reasoning. This can lead to Black children receiving less emotional support than white https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2022/07/21/july-is-national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month/ children, which can in turn increase the risk of depression, stress, and suicidality. These “zero tolerance policies” in schools lead to children, especially Black children, being expelled, suspended, or even arrested by cops in schools.

Five innovative programs supporting students’ mental wellness

The researchers will also assess whether participants say they have stronger bonds with their peers and can better regulate their emotions, and whether they take advantage of clinical services more as time passes. They are expecting the kids who take part will report decreased depression symptoms and a lower suicide risk. Molock, Hankerson, and Wyman have received a $1.5 million grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to expand the HAVEN Connect program to 12 more churches and more rigorously study its impact. The people working in these churches are convinced of the project’s success. “My goal is to impact you and show you we care.” “I don’t care if you’re a member or not,” Poindexter said.

When it comes to Black students in particular, Dr. Okoya shared that “it’s really important that young people feel like they belong in the school not despite their identity, but because of their identity. The discussion then turned to the importance of making mental health supports equitable and accessible to all students. We should model this culture in staff meetings by providing empathy, support and compassion for one another and provide mental health support systems for school staff. As Dr. Okoya said, “regulated adults can regulate young people.” We must make space for the adults in our schools to get the support they need as well. By consistently exposing students to language around well-being and mental health, we are able to push folks into the “contemplation phase” of asking for—or seeking—support.