By Lishaun Francis, Children Now!
While most youth worry about issues like mass shootings and climate change, youth of color are disproportionately more stressed about housing stability, personal debt and food insecurity than their white counterparts; concerns that have only been exacerbated for families due to the coronavirus.
This “layering on” of additional, ongoing stress due to the impacts of structural racism deserves more inquiry. ...
...Support during these stressful events could ordinarily be found through formal channels like mental health services at schools, and less formal channels like faith-based organizations, community centers, and connections with family and friends. However, the public health emergency of COVID-19 has compounded the experience of community trauma with children and youth experiencing isolation and an inability to access resources and supports.
In response, Children Now is pushing the state to center children and youth as it explores how to better support the mental health of Californians.
Read the full list of related policy recommendations here.
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