Adolescent mental health has been a priority public health concern in recent years. And Black youth in particular face numerous mental health challenges and barriers that their white peers do not. New data shows an alarming increase in Black adolescent suicides. It’s an indicator that urgent measures are needed to improve the quality of and access to mental healthcare for Black youth.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the barriers the Black community face in receiving mental healthcare, the risk factors contributing to Black teen suicides, and why greater access to culturally competent care can help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health.
Key Takeaways
- Black teen suicide rates are rising faster than any other racial/ethnic group.
- Meanwhile, Black adolescents are less likely to receive mental healthcare services due to practical, systemic, and cultural barriers to treatment.
- Risk factors for Black teen suicide include racial discrimination, domestic violence, and financial hardship.
- Overcoming barriers to mental healthcare requires more culturally competent care, which considers how a person’s culture, race, and ethnicity influence mental health and the care they should receive.
Black Teen Mental Health and Suicide Statistics
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that suicides among Black youth are rising faster than any other racial/ethnic group. Suicide rates in Black youth ages 10 to 19 have increased 54 percent since 2019, surpassing White peers for the first time, whose suicide rate has decreased 17 percent since 2022. Additionally, from 2007 to 2020, suicides among Black youth 10 to 17 jumped an alarming 144 percent.
More data points to the urgent need to improve and address mental healthcare for Black communities. In Still Ringing the Alarm, a follow-up to a 2019 report to Congress titled Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America, the authors outline more startling statistics:
- Young Black males had a suicide rate 2.3 times higher than young Black girls.
- 39 percent of Black high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness—a 42 percent increase from 2009
- Suicide attempts by Black adolescent girls increased 71 percent between 2009 and 2021 (10 percent to 18 percent).
- 22 percent of Black teens said they had seriously considered attempting suicide, a 66 percent increase since 2009.
“There is much work to be done within schools, the allied mental health professions, health institutions, funders, and government entities to provide the necessary investment and training to properly address the mental wellness needs of Black youth. We must reverse the trends for suicide and ensure that more Black children and teens are received and engaged in mental health care,” stated the 2019 Congressional Report.
What Are the Biggest Suicide and Mental Health Risk Factors for Black Youth?
Black teens face cultural challenges that can adversely impact mental health. They are more likely to witness or experience violence than their white peers. And Black youth are more frequently targets of discrimination and racism, whether on a personal or systemic level. This exposure can lead to feelings of hopelessness, depression, and anxiety.
Moreover, Black teens who identify as LGBTQ+, particularly those in unsupportive households, are at greater risk for suicide. One in five Black LGBTQ+ youth have been physically threatened or harmed due to their sexual orientation. Additionally, 51 percent of Black LGBTQ+ youth surveyed felt sad and hopeless, while 35 percent reported seriously considering attempting suicide.
Understanding the risk factors for Black adolescent suicide is crucial for prevention and intervention efforts. Addressing these risk factors through community support, accessible mental health services, education, and policy changes can reduce the risk of suicide among Black adolescents.
Key Risk Factors for Black Adolescent Suicide
- Lack of access and utilization of mental healthcare: Disparities in access to mental health services can prevent timely and effective treatment of mental health issues. Black Americans historically have been mistreated by the healthcare community, receiving subpar care compared to white Americans. Therefore, there is a deep-rooted mistrust of the system, and mental illness often goes untreated.
- Exposure to racism and discrimination: Experiences of racial discrimination can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Black adolescents are significantly less likely to receive care for depression.
- Economic inequality: Financial hardships and living in impoverished conditions can increase stress and limit access to mental health resources.
- Community violence: Exposure to violence can lead to trauma, which is a significant risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
- Family discord/trauma: Instability within the family, including domestic violence or having a family member with a mental health or substance use disorder, can destabilize a young person’s support system, increasing vulnerability to mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.
- Mental health stigma: Black families are more likely to talk about mental health issues within the family unit rather than seek professional help. This is due to a long history of mistrust of the American healthcare system. Adolescents may also fear that friends will tease or make fun of them for getting mental health treatment.
How Does Racial Discrimination Impact Mental Health?
Experiencing racism or bigotry causes trauma, which directly impacts mental health. Hence, depression is the most common mental health issue affecting the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community, who frequently experience racism.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open examined how Black adolescents who have experienced racial discrimination process their response. By studying the amygdala, the emotion center of the brain, researchers could determine whether responses were internalized (feelings of depression and anxiety) or externalized (arguing and acting out).
When participants’ amygdalae shut down in response to negative stressors, they were more likely to internalize symptoms. This is the brain’s way of protecting them when they face discrimination. But researchers say internalizing these feelings is a sign of avoidant coping, which can adversely impact mental health over time. This was the case for 1 in 5 participants.
Another study examined the relationship between childhood adversity and racism to suicidal and death ideation (SDI) in young Black men. The results showed that Black men who grew up in socioeconomically deprived areas and experienced racial discrimination or other adversities had an increased risk of SDI.
Barriers to Mental Healthcare for Black Americans
According to the National Institute of Health, 1 in 5 adolescents has experienced a major depressive episode, an increase from previous data showing 10 percent. However, Black adolescents are significantly less likely to receive mental healthcare than their peers in other ethic/racial groups due to practical, systemic, and cultural barriers to care. Here are some barriers to mental healthcare in the Black community:
Stigma and Mistrust of the Healthcare System
There is a deep-rooted mistrust of the healthcare system in the Black community, stemming from years of mistreatment within the industry. Additionally, Black mental health professionals are underrepresented. One study revealed that 86 percent of psychologists in the US are white, while only 4 percent are Black/African-American.
Studies have shown that within the Black community, there are more stigmatized attitudes toward depression treatment. Black adolescents tend to resist labeling their problems as mental health issues. In contrast, white adolescents are more likely to see depression as a treatable medical disorder, either through therapy, medication, or both.
Lack of Access to Quality Care
Black Americans who live in urban, lower socioeconomic communities may have limited access to quality mental health services and to culturally competent care. Financial hardships or work demands can make it difficult for them to get to a medical facility and to pay for healthcare services.
Research shows that Black youth may present depression symptoms differently than their White peers. For example, they may exhibit anger, aggression, or irritability, as opposed to sadness or lack of interest in daily activities. Therefore, depression in Black teens often goes untreated or is misdiagnosed as behavioral problems.
Moreover, when providers are not trained to provide culturally competent care, they sometimes react to such behavior with extreme and inappropriate responses, such as suggesting disciplinary actions. Approximately 50 percent to 75 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental illness. This further deepens the cultural mistrust of mental healthcare.
Take Action Today
Moving from awareness to action could save a young person’s life. Here are some ways to help a struggling teen get the support they need.
- Find an outpatient mental health center in your area. Outpatient clinics often provide free assessments and will refer individuals to other facilities or options if outpatient care is not appropriate.
- If you are a parent or caregiver, contact your insurance company to find out about your coverage for mental healthcare and what treatment facilities they work with. Many people are not aware that their policy includes coverage for their child’s mental health treatment.
- Ask your pediatrician or other healthcare provider for a referral or a list of culturally competent mental health providers in your area.
- If a teen is in crisis and needs immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
- Call us at 952-826-8475, and our team will help you determine what level of care may be appropriate for your child. If PrairieCare is not the right fit, our admissions team can support you in the next steps or other local organizations that may be helpful.
Treatment for Teen Depression at PrairieCare
At PrairieCare, we acknowledge the unique challenges around mental health faced by Black teens. We are dedicated to helping BIPOC youth and their families overcome barriers to care by providing our clinicians with the training and support they need to offer culturally competent care. Our team of doctors, nurses, and clinicians approaches care with love, empathy, and connection. We aim to remove the stigma from mental health treatment so that teens can experience long-term healing.
PrairieCare offers a full continuum of mental health services across Minnesota, including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), residential treatment for teens, and an inpatient hospital for anyone 35 and younger.
Get started by calling our team at 952-826-8475 or learning more about our admissions process here. You can also request a no-cost mental health screening by clicking the button below and filling out the form on the right. Our team will contact you within one business day to begin the process.
Sources
- Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology. 2024
- JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(6): e2416491.
- Still ringing the alarm: an enduring call to action for Black youth suicide prevention. 2023
- Ring the alarm: The crisis of black youth suicide in America. 2019.
- American Psychological Association. Feb 2018; 49 (2).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is mental health an issue in the Black community?
- Many Black families face barriers to care, including financial hardships, stigmas around the healthcare system, and limited resources within their communities. These barriers keep people from getting the mental health treatment they need, which has led to a substantial increase in mental health issues and Black teen suicides.
What is the stigma of mental health for African Americans?
- Black Americans historically have been mistreated by the healthcare community, receiving subpar care compared to white Americans. There is a deep-rooted mistrust of the system; therefore, mental illness often goes untreated.
How do Black Americans view mental health?
- Black Americans tend to talk about any mental health issues they are facing within their family unit. This stems from a general mistrust of the health system and stigma around mental health. Black Americans tend to talk about any mental health issues they are facing within their family unit. This stems from a general mistrust of the health system and stigma around mental health.