By Mental Health America
Racial trauma, or race-based traumatic stress (RBTS), refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes. Any individual that has experienced an emotionally painful, sudden, and uncontrollable racist encounter is at risk of suffering from a race-based traumatic stress injury. In the U.S., Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) are most vulnerable due to living under a system of white supremacy.
Experiences of race-based discrimination can have detrimental psychological impacts on individuals and their wider communities. In some individuals, prolonged incidents of racism can lead to symptoms like those experienced with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Share This Post!
Early childhood trauma and its long-term impact on cognitive and emotional development
Source: National Library of Medicine Childhood trauma has profound, long-term effects on cognitive and emotional development. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to synthesis the evidence around the long-term impact of [...]
Helping children who have or are experiencing trauma this holiday season
For many, the holiday season is a joyful one – the popular song “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” comes to mind – but for children who have or are experiencing trauma, Christmas, [...]
Healing Frameworks: Understanding ACEs in Indigenous Communities
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is committed to advocating for the health and well-being of Indigenous communities. One of our key initiatives focuses on addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are traumatic [...]
Gratitude Not Required: A Trauma-Informed Thanksgiving for Children in Care
By Beth Tyson Children impacted by any kind of family separation, whether it be foster care, adoption, or divorce, don’t have to feel thankful during Thanksgiving or any other holiday. There, I [...]
Emotional and Psychological Trauma
By Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A. and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. What is emotional and psychological trauma? Emotional and psychological trauma occurs when extraordinarily stressful events shatter your sense of security. Psychological trauma can leave you [...]
Understanding Childhood Trauma: Ways to Support Young People
By Boys & Girls Clubs of America For generations, tough childhood experiences have been swept under the rug by phrases like these. Oftentimes, the reason why is simple: many families simply did [...]