It’s April National Minority Mental Health Month.
A woman of color begins to suffer from depression after hearing jokes about her ethnicity on a regular basis at work. Another woman feels anxious driving too close to a police cruiser. Another woman stops her regular walks outside, fearing that her tribe might make her a target for violence.
All three scenarios can be considered examples racial trauma — the emotional reaction resulting from negative experiences that occur because of a person’s race. Racial or racist trauma can have a significant impact on mental, emotional, and physical health, especially if that person experiences continued exposure to discrimination.
Amy Beck, Ph.D.health psychologist, can relate to her patients expressing fears of “driving while Black” and potentially interacting with law enforcement if they are arrested for a minor traffic violation.
“Who else should think they won’t go over the speed limit, because they might if they get pulled over?” Beck asked. “When you think about chronic stress, it’s these examples of constantly having to think about what might happen to you because of your race or ethnicity. Race-based trauma is a huge stressor that can be ongoing because you will always be black or colored. That’s never going to change.”
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Racial discrimination as a cause of trauma has gained greater international attention in recent years, particularly after the killing of George Floyd that launched a national reckoning on the treatment of people of color by the police;. Attacks on Asian women in the early days of the pandemic raised awareness about hate crimes against the Asian community;as Asians were targeted by others who blamed them for Covid simply because the virus started in China.
ONE study in 2019 found that 50% to 75% of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians in the US reported experiencing racial discrimination. Other study about the racial trauma referred to research who found that people who have experienced “complex trauma”, which is repeated exposure to ongoing traumatic events have higher rates of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, sleep problems, substance abuse and behavioral disorders, among other mental health issues. Physical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, digestive problems, obesity, and cardiovascular concerns have also been linked to complex trauma. Researchers argue that racial trauma is a complex trauma because it is continuous and unrelenting.
“Trauma affects your body, mind and spirit,” Beck said. “We know that there is evidence that trauma can alter the neurodevelopment of the brain based on its severity and when the trauma occurred. Racial trauma can certainly affect the way brains develop and the way they are wired, which can have long-term effects.”
What is racial trauma?
Racial trauma, or race-based trauma, can result from experiencing discrimination that falls into the following general categories.
- Interpersonal discrimination it is a direct action taken from one person to another. This is the category that often has the most exposure to the public and includes actions that are often classified as hate crimes.
- Systemic/institutional discrimination consists of inequalities rooted in an organization or culture that lead to worse outcomes for those affected. Practices like Red line (denying people faith based on where they live) or attending historically underfunded educational institutions are examples of this kind of discrimination.
- Intrapersonal discrimination is when a person absorbs negative experiences and messages related to their race and internalizes them. This can affect one’s self-esteem and self-image because those affected may feel less capable or not good enough for something positive because of their race.
In addition to the negative effects on one’s health, racial trauma can also contribute to damaged relationships with others and socioeconomic consequencessuch as difficulty keeping a job, unemployment and poverty.
“When you put all of these things together, it takes a lot of work to develop a resilient spirit to resist these outside pressures and limit the absorption of that trauma into your being,” Beck said.
How to find help for racial trauma
Research is limited on effective treatments for racial trauma, but positive results have been seen
mindfulness programs that focus on people of color;including RiSE (Resilience, Stress and Ethnicity), a program designed to help Black women at cardiovascular risk develop coping skills related to racial stress and trauma. A study of psychedelic use found improvements in symptoms of racial trauma, traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression for people of color.
Mental health therapy and treatment is beneficial, but it is important to find a mental health provider who understands the impact of racial discrimination and how it can cause trauma. Beck said that dealing with racial trauma must take a holistic approach that addresses mental, emotional and physical issues.
Read: Closing the mental health gap for women of color >>
“There’s been a lot of recognition that who you are affects not only your health care experience, but your health in the world, and that needs to be incorporated into health care treatment,” Beck said. “It’s hard for even the most privileged, non-vulnerable populations to get comprehensive health care, so it’s especially harder for many people of color. When you think about the fact that most people of color are underrepresented in all fields of health care, it can be difficult to find someone trained in this.”
However, access to skilled mental health providers has increased in other ways. Telehealth has expanded care options, as it has PSYPACT, a multistate agreement that allows licensed practitioners to offer treatment across state lines in 39 (currently) states, with more planned to join. Women in participating states can search for providers in online specialist directories by a specific ethnic or racial group or through a general Internet search.
“In treatment, there are specific treatments designed to help women manage and improve after negative trauma experiences, but treatment can also include things like diet and exercise,” she said. “There is interesting data looking at the effect of the gut on mental health. All these things work together.”
Most importantly, Beck said become your mental health advocate. When meeting with a provider, ask questions and be honest about your experiences. If you feel you are not being heard, let your provider know and consider finding another specialist who is a better fit.
“You deserve to feel good and be healthy,” Beck said. “Don’t normalize feeling less than your best and fullest self. If you don’t feel that way, reach out because there are people who really want to help you make it happen.”
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