Recognising the impact of racism on one’s mental health can be difficult for a variety of reasons. The lack of awareness of the relationship between racism and mental health is the main reason that many, if not most, have never been made aware of the emotional and psychological toll racism has on its victims. Emotionally, the reactions to racism often include feeling disrespected, angry, insulted, disappointed, frustrated, outraged, hurt, or shocked. Psychologically, racism leads to increased anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, avoidance, guilt.

That is, because of racism, many Black youth in Europe lead lives full of worry, have a constant sense of being on guard, and suppress or deny their feelings about racism or feel conflicted about not speaking out against racism. One can imagine, or perhaps one knows firsthand, that dealing with these thoughts and feelings repeatedly and over a prolonged period of time eventually results in long-term worsening of one’s mood, self-concept, and relationships with others or with one’s racial identity. Another reason that Black youth have in recognising the impact of racism on their mental health has to do with the stigma and taboos around mental health within the Black community.

Hence, many Black youth suffer with mental health problems in silence, due to the inner community and self-imposed pressure to suppress fear or weakness, resist being vulnerable, and aim to succeed despite limited resources. Thinking about the cost of racism to mental health one considers how the Black youth might feel comfortable speaking out against the immorality and the injustice surrounding racism, but feel less comfortable acknowledging the emotional and psychological toll racism has on their lives and sense of self. Moreover, one considers how the Black youth are subjected to gendered racial norms that make it difficult for them to express the feelings of hurt, shame, and/or alienation often associated with racism. Learn more !