By Carolyn Jones, Photo: Alison Yin/EdSource, EdSource, January 25, 2022
Nearly everyone has experienced a degree of anxiety or depression due to the pandemic. But for young Black people also confronting persistent racism and ever-widening inequities, the current moment has led to an acute crisis in mental health.
The suicide rate among Black youth, which for years trailed that of Asian and white students, has doubled since 2014 is now twice the statewide average, far exceeding all other groups, according to the California Department of Public Health. Twelve of every 100,000 Black 18-24-year-olds died by suicide in 2020. In 2014 the Black suicide rate was about 25% lower than that of white students and 15% lower than the rate among Asian students.
Black young people are also more at risk of depression, anxiety and stress due to the pandemic, and the recent spotlight on police violence against Black people, according to a December advisory from the U.S. surgeon general. Gun violence, climate change and economic uncertainty also play a role.
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