Engaging a New Generation of Trainees: Amplifying Voices of Color

Children in the US are facing a mental health crisis, which is not felt evenly across racial groups. In 2021, suicide was the second leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 24 years, rising 52% from 2000.¹ Non-Hispanic American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) youth have the highest risk.¹ Suicide among Black youth has increased by 60% from 2001 to 2017.² Suicide rates also increased among Hispanic persons by 6.8% from 2018 to 2021.³ Between 2019 and 2021, suicide rates decreased by 3.9% among non-Hispanic White people, but increased among non-Hispanic AI/AN by 26% and non-Hispanic Black by 19.2%.¹ The current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicate that parents report that 1 in 6 children aged 2 to 8 years have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, which are most common between 6 and 11 years of age. There is significant chronicity, as approximately half of adults with mental illnesses are diagnosed before age 15 years.⁴ The burdens of chronic mental health concerns can lead to subsequent disability that is disproportionately high for racially and ethnically minoritized groups relative to White persons.⁵ Early interventions can lead to better outcomes; however, there is a shortage of pediatric psychiatrists.⁶.