Supporting Black LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis, the Lifeline network is available 24/7. Resources to support you, your family or friends. Confidential support for 13- to 25-year-olds in California. It takes the lead in challenging injustices in policies, systems and society, so everyone can have better mental health. UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We are ready to drive lasting, enduring change, but we need systems that truly support and invest in that vision.”

What’s the theme for Children’s Mental Health Week 2026?

TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I refuse to let Black children be left behind—and that means facing anti-Black racism head on. When racist behaviors do occur, leaders need to hold mental health staff accountable, even if it means penalizing highly prized colleagues or close friends. I was fortunate to study under one of these, the Social Justice Health Equity Curriculum at Yale Department of Psychiatry. Research funding is necessary for further studies examining the impact of anti-Black racism on child mental health throughout development. These findings suggest that experiences of racism outweigh the protective effects of parental education.

School and Community

Unlike national samples that may not capture both those in treatment and those not in treatment, this study included samples of adolescents in both populations. While it would be expected to find elevated rates of mental health diagnoses for adolescents who are actively receiving mental health treatment, there was also a high rates of mental health symptoms such as depression and substance use disorder in the OT group. It is possible that adolescents in this group were experiencing more severe psychological symptoms due to trauma exposure that more readily prompted parents and/or adolescents to seek mental health services.

• As a result, there is a lack of culturally competent or responsive services in communities to meet the needs of Black families and their youth.
• Like face-to-face mentoring efforts Black youth accessed through faith-based programs (Barrett, 2010; Jordan & Wilson, 2017; Parker et al., 2020), the participants conveyed positive sentiments about the support and care they received through this e-mentoring initiative.
• Try to speak with your children regularly, giving them a safe space to express themselves and validate their feelings and experiences.
• Back in 1993, Molock was eventually able to overcome reviewers’ skepticism about studying suicides among Black people.

Black Men’s Wellness

Get exclusive updates on our care services and resources to support children’s mental health. Addressing these risk factors through community support, accessible mental health services, education, and policy changes can reduce the risk of suicide among Black adolescents. Increasing access to mental healthcare at schools, https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2022/07/21/july-is-national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month/ like Fraser’s school-based mental wellness programs, will also help Black young people more easily access treatment.

The fund offers a range of programs and events, including webinars, crisis resources, and scholarships to support Black teens’ mental health awareness. One such organization is The Steve Fund, which focuses on promoting mental health support for young people of color. Advocacy organizations play a vital role in raising awareness about Black youth mental health and providing platforms for support and advocacy. To promote Black youth mental health, it is crucial to create spaces where they feel safe discussing their experiences. The Art Therapy Outreach Center offers a range of culturally competent art therapy services for marginalized communities, including Black youth. By addressing social determinants of mental health, such as poverty and discrimination, we can enhance overall well-being and reduce the prevalence of mental health issues in Black youth.