The Mental Health Crisis Among Black Youth

In a team meeting, a White teacher proudly stated, “Black children hardly ever cry so they can handle consequences…”

This misnomer has been one of the driving forces to the school-to-prison pipeline. So, I ask, who’s running schools filled with Black kids? How long will we dance around the elephant?

Black children are faced with the possessed reality of racism before they enter school. This starts in utero. Due to a history of maltreatment in the health care industry, Black families are uncertain about medical decisions, diagnoses, and long-term treatment plans-(distrust)-this has left marred results within the Black community. Generations have passed down scarred realities, leaving their descendants to unfortunately tread in the path of a disgust far too familiar- ?(Tuskegee Study).? Racism is overt to Blacks. Sometimes, it is unbeknownst to Whites so much that it can raise the hair on the back of your neck. This is not due to them sparing Black people’s feelings. Their unawareness is culminated from innate thoughts, beliefs, and views passed down from their ancestors. Society calls it unconscious bias. Discrimination is really what is on the other side of that mirror.

In the eyes of education, Black children are considered to be more abrasive when compared to peers who exhibit similar, if not more, social-emotional dysregulations -(annual report to Congress on IDEA). They are deemed: guilty before proven innocent, and harsher punishments seem less than fitting. This has left a hole for Black students as they tend to be disproportionately labeled with a learning disability or emotional disturbances- (publicly announced).

In recent years, reports of depression and suicide have been on the rise in Black communities and networking in social structures have not been equally proportioned - (experience).

?Due to over culture mismatching, there are very few teachers and administrators who wholeheartedly identify with Black students. They DO NOT need a savior. They NEED support. The gap in understanding Black heritage, leaves a droughted, imbalance of non-Black teachers truly unable to grasp how their students think, speak, and learn. This timely injustice has widened the gap to receive strong student services, causing the mental health crisis to soar among Black youth. Many parents are left scrambling trying to obtain and afford adequate support as well as reprieve any further mental dilemma. ?

Unlike people, mental crises and suicide don't discriminate. Don’t let a temporary problem be the solution to a permanent outcome. There’s hope on the other side of the equation: get the support you deserve.

If you or someone you know are experiencing despair, please call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s confidential. It’s free. It's life.

About the author: Dr. Traci Smalls Marshall is a Kansas City, Missouri native. She graduated from Southwest High-6512 Wornall Rd. 4ever-Go Indians! Be on the lookout-"Black Agility" is on it's way!

?