Building a collective approach to promote healing after trauma among Black youth

Black youth are disproportionately exposed to racial trauma, increasing their risk for mental health problems, yet they are less likely to receive effective mental health support due to overlooked and misinterpreted symptoms and lack of culturally responsive interventions. To address this, we conducted a photovoice study exploring Black youth perspectives on trauma-related mental health inequities in their community and recommendations for social action.

We recruited Black youth 13-18 years of age who reported experiencing racial trauma-defined as stress or emotional pain from experiences of racism or discrimination-from Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Eight youth participated in four 90-min photovoice sessions in June 2024. Qualitative analysis explored youth perspectives on trauma-related mental health inequities impacting them and their community.

We identified three themes that support a multidimensional approach to promoting mental health among youth exposed to trauma: (a) the need to raise awareness and understanding of mental health struggles of their generation, (b) improving intergenerational communication about mental health, and (c) taking a collective approach to promote youth mental health in their community. Themes were shared at a community forum to identify next steps for action building from these themes.

Next steps include supporting intergenerational conversations about youth mental health through youth and adult workshops, developing peer support strategies to promote youth mental health, and advocating to increase resources in schools to support youth mental health. We are currently implementing these action priorities in Kansas City, Missouri. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).