Recently, some of the mindyourmind team completed the Centering Black Youth Wellbeing online Certificate offered by YouthREX. This virtual course was a meaningful journey of learning and reflection that is very beneficial for anyone looking to learn more about the history of anti-Black racism in Canada, the impact of anti-Black racism on youth and how to best support Black youth with their mental health.
Course Highlights: Understanding Anti-Black Racism
The training brought together scholars, activists, and artists to create a thoughtfully designed space with lectures, artistic performances, and resources. It covered Canada’s deep-rooted anti-Black racism, tracing it from slavery before Canada’s founding, to the uprising of the Ku Klux Klan, discriminatory immigration policies, and the erasure of Black Canadian history. It emphasized the need to dismantle racist systems by acknowledging current racism and actively countering Whiteness and White supremacy. It’s not just about learning facts; it’s about truly understanding the origins of anti-Black racism and how it impacts our communities today.
The Reality of Racism in Canada
Despite Canada’s multicultural image and the concept of a “melting pot” celebrating diversity, these ideals often ignore the reality of the experiences of Black Canadians and other cultural groups, who face racism, discrimination, and systemic barriers that impact their achievement and cultural expression. Statistics show that:
- lack and Indigenous youth continue to be over-represented in the youth justice system,
- Black students are disproportionately disciplined or expelled from school,
- Black youth have a history of not receiving the same level of health care, and we can list many more examples of barriers that Black youth face.
Years of discrimination and microaggressions can take a toll on Black youth’s mental health, and systemic barriers exist that prevent youth from reaching out for help for their mental health.
Key Practices for Supporting Black Youth
We wanted to highlight these key practices shared in the lecture “Pathways to Mental Health Care for Black Youth.” These can provide insight and actionable steps you can implement in your work to support Black youth:
- Listen to Black Youth
- Develop Healthy Relationships with Black Youth
- Develop coordinated efforts to better address Anti-Black racism in organizations
- Develop partnerships with Black-led organizations and Black service providers
- Develop creative ways to use and share research findings
- Make a point to understand the specific issues facing Black youth and their communities
- Center Black youth voices in your work and develop partnerships with Black youth
Applying Lessons and Encouraging Change
Each module encourages introspection and recognizes our responsibility to examine our own biases, understand our role in systemic issues, and find ways to actively contribute to positive change. It’s important to not only learn, but also apply the lessons in our daily lives and work. It’s about building bridges, amplifying voices, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued and heard! We encourage you to complete and share this training with your friends and family.
Mental Health Care Resources
For further recommendations for mental health professionals, the University of Ottawa has a bilingual platform, which aims to equip professionals with the knowledge to provide culturally appropriate and anti-racist mental health care.
P.S. Check out this blog, #BlackHistoryMonth – 3 Canada-wide Resources for Black Youth, about some of our favourite organizations working to support Black youth with their mental health!