Systemic racism and hostile racial environments are nothing new in the United States, but 2020 and 2021 to date have marked a significant milestone in awareness and lack of tolerance for it. Ironically, while this upheaval has created the potential for change, it has also put a strain on the mental health of many Black Americans, whose stress may be increased by continued media reports of violence and police brutality. “Racism is a public health crisis,” says Daniel H. Gillison Jr., NAMI CEO. In fact, a growing body of research shows that experiencing racism increases the risk for anxiety, ulcers, insomnia, mood swings, and emotional and social withdrawal.
