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A guide for young people Racism and mental health

Being treated differently or unfairly because of our race, skin colour or ethnicity can negatively affect our mental health. Here's some information on how to get help if you've experienced racism.

A female family having a serious discussion while sitting near a wall

Being treated differently or unfairly because of our race, skin colour or ethnicity can negatively affect our mental health.

Racism can happen anywhere. It can happen at school, at work, or at home; it can happen online or offline, and it can even happen within families and relationships. Sometimes racist abuse is obvious - verbal abuse about the way someone looks, stereotypes about how someone might behave, or physical violence and bullying, for example. Sometimes racism is part of the structures and systems that we live in. And sometimes racism is ‘subtle’ and difficult for other people to notice.

The important thing is how you see the situation and how it makes you feel.

We can spend a lot of time wondering whether we have been badly or unfairly treated because of our skin colour, race or ethnicity, or for some other reason, and it’s not always totally clear. This can make us feel confused or even foolish for talking about our experiences, especially if the people we are talking to have never had to ask themselves these sorts of questions.

Sometimes, even when we are convinced we have experienced racist treatment, people around us might try to tell us we’ve got it wrong. This can feel very lonely and isolating. But remember, you are not alone and your feelings are valid.

It’s also valid if you feel that experiencing racism ‘indirectly’ has an effect on your mental health. Sometimes the things going on around us, to people just like us, can feel like they have happened to us and make us feel personally attacked, helpless, or like our lives don’t matter.

Six arms of different skin tones. On each arm reads the word 'worthy'.

Illustration by @ohhappydani. Six different hands reach across a pink background with the word 'worthy' written on their arms.

You might also be affected by:

  • racism directed towards your family and loved ones
  • constant negative headlines about a group you identify with or a country you have ties with
  • harmful representation, misrepresentation or no representation in the media
  • noticing worrying patterns of behaviour from the institutions you interact with (whether at your doctor’s surgery, at school, at work)
  • reading statistics that show unfairness and inequality across the justice, health and education system
  • people dismissing how you feel, telling you you’re overreacting, or denying there is a problem
  • your culture, community or religion being stereotyped or misunderstood by those around you
  • feeling like people treat you differently because of your personal or racial identity
An increasing amount of people from diaspora communities in the UK are experiencing disordered eating, and our unique experience of having to juggle our ‘home’ culture with our life in the West is hardly spoken about in discussions around mental healthcare. Stigma and racial discrimination in healthcare has meant that people of colour aren’t able to seek out or access the right treatment.
Kari, 24
My experience of an eating disorder in the Indian diaspora

How can experiencing racism affect my mental health?

Your experiences of being treated differently from others because of your skin colour, race or ethnicity can mean that you live with constant fear or anxiety. You might start to avoid doing the same things that other people simply do without thinking about.

Some examples of this can include:

  • speaking in another language, or with an accent, in public
  • using public transport or going to certain public places alone where you could be a minority
  • using your real name on a job application
  • worrying about interacting with the police
  • worrying about wearing the clothes you want to wear
  • hiding parts of your identity, like your religion or culture
  • sharing your worldview and taking part in topical discussions
  • visiting places, or going on holiday to places, where racism has been reported
A young person in their bedroom looking at their phone.
Young Black people are also at risk of being treated as an adult when they are not. Adultification is when children of minority groups are treated by adults as being “more mature than they actually are." This can cause a lot of problems for boys and girls within the Black community.
Jade, 23
Talking about mental health in the Black British community

Racism and religious discrimination

You might also have experienced people treating you differently or discriminating against you because of your religion – this is called religious discrimination. Although race and religion are different things, they often intersect, meaning that sometimes it can be impossible to separate your racial identity and your religious identity. This might mean that you experience religious discrimination alongside racism.

Some examples of religious discrimination can include:

  • not having particular cultural or religious needs respected in the office or in school, such as needing to take time to pray or to observe religious holidays
  • feeling peer pressured to take part in certain activities that don’t align with your religious values, such as going to the pub and/or drinking alcohol
  • people making offensive comments or jokes about your religion or religious beliefs
  • not being allowed to wear items of religious clothing in the workplace or at school, such as a hijab
  • not being hired for a job or accepted into a school because of your religious beliefs or identity
  • being treated unfairly or ‘differently’ by teachers, friends or colleagues, because of your religion
Two young people standing together and smiling, one has their arm around the shoulder of the other.

Your religion is a deeply personal thing and being treated unfairly because of it can be very distressing. You might even feel like you have to hide it sometimes because you’re worried about how people might react or what they might say. But remember that religious discrimination is never okay, and you deserve to feel proud of who you are.

You can find out more about religious discrimination and your rights on the Citizens Advice website.

Racism, directly or indirectly, touches every person of colour and has an effect on our mental health.
Sian, 19

Tips to help if racism is affecting your mental health

Here are some things you can do if racism is affecting your mental health.

Speak to someone you trustabout how you are feeling, like a family member, faith leader or a friend. Talking about how you feel can often be the first step to getting help and finding support. It might feel difficult to talk about how you are feeling or to revisit personal experiences of racism. Take your time and only share what you want to. Sometimes you might find it hard to talk to your family about how you’re feeling because you’re worried about how they may react. But it’s important to remember that there are other people you can speak to who can help and support you. We have a range of helplines you can use for free listed at the bottom of this page.

You might find it helpful to talk to someone of a similar race, ethnicity or religion to you. The Black, African and Asian therapy network have a directory of specialist Black and minority ethnic (BME) counsellors or therapists. You can visit our page on therapy and counselling to find out more.

You should speak to your GP if you:

  • are experiencing flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about a traumatic
  • incident or think you might have PTSD
  • have a continuously low mood, depression or low self-esteem
  • are feeling numb or empty inside
  • experience changes to your sleeping or eating habits
  • experience any changes to your mood and behaviour that feel out of the ordinary
  • are feeling worried or are anxious a lot of the time

If you feel worried about speaking with your GP about your mental health, check out the DocReady website for advice on how to have these challenging conversations. It will help you understand what to expect and how to plan what you're going to say.

For more information and advice, see our guide on speaking to your GP.

How to speak to your GP

This can help you feel empowered and remind you that what you are experiencing is not okay and no one should believe that it is.

Find supportive groups and communities who understand what you are going through. It can be very hard to explain how you feel to a person that has not experienced racism, whether directly or indirectly. Online communities can be a way to find like-minded people with similar experiences and shared interests that you can talk to, have a safe space to be heard and remember that you are not alone. It might not always feel easy to open up at first, and that's okay. It might take some time to find the right people to speak to who make you feel comfortable and understood.

There are many anti-racist movements and organisations who are fighting for change in society. Being part of a larger movement can help you feel empowered, valued and give you a sense of hope that change is possible. Make sure to take time out to rest and look after yourself if you are regularly involved in activism.

Do not put pressure on yourself – this is a problem you cannot solve on your own. The people around you all have a responsibility to make changes to their behaviour and to uphold the rights of Black and ethnic minority groups.

What we see on online can have a negative impact on our mental health, but remember you can have control over what you see on your social media. Try unfollowing or blocking accounts and muting words that upset you. All social media channels have ways you can report abusive behaviour. If you find that social media is still having an impact on your mental health, then try taking a break.

  • I decided I shouldn't feel ashamed of who I am - nobody should ever feel ashamed of who they are.
    Luke, 15
  • I think it is important to remember how far we have come in the last century, both in the fight for racial equality and in mental health awareness.
    Wes

Blogs on racism and mental health

Read our blogs written by young people on racism and mental health.

 

  • A young man wearing glasses and a navy hoodie. He is sat on the grass and leaning against a tree while reading a book.

    Racism and my mental health

    "Nobody has any right to discriminate against you based on your race or ethnicity. Ever." Our Activist Luke, 15, shares how his experience of racism has affected his mental health.

  • A young person sits in a room wearing a black hoodie and their hair tied back. They are looking to the right with their hand curled over their mouth, lost in thought.

    How racism impacts my mental health

    "It is the world that’s wrong, not you. So embrace your identity and love what makes you, you." Sian, 19, shares how racism affects her mental health, and what helps her cope.

  • A boy sitting alone on the end of his bed and appearing deep in thought.

    Black mental health matters

    Everybody deserves mental health support when they need it. Our guest blogger, Wes, shares why it's important that we talk about Black mental health.

Reporting a hate crime

Any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone because of their race or ethnicity is a ‘hate crime’. Anybody can report a hate crime - whether they are the victim, someone who witnessed the crime, or someone the victim has told about the crime or incident.

You can report a hate crime online, via the True Vision website.

True Vision website
If you’re experiencing racism online, reporting it is perfectly reasonable and the right thing to do because racial discrimination is illegal.
Luke, 15

What to do if you think a mental health professional is being racist

If you need help and support with making a complaint, you can contact your local NHS Complaints Advocacy service. This is a free and confidential service, independent from the NHS.

Contact your local council to find out who the advocacy provider is in your area.

Find your local council

How you can raise a complaint:

  • Speak up

    Every NHS service provider (such as your GP, or hospital) has their own complaints procedure. You can find information on making a complaint on your service provider’s website, in waiting rooms, or by talking to a member of staff.

  • You have options

    You can choose to complain to the NHS service provider directly, or to the commissioner of the services, which is the body that pays for the NHS services you use.

  • Choose your communication method

    You can make a complaint verbally, in writing, or by email.

  • You should get an acknowledgement

    Once you have made a complaint, you should expect an acknowledgement and the offer of a discussion about the handling of your complaint within working days.

  • For more information

    Visit the NHS webpage on making complaints for more guidance.

Get help now

Where to get help

See below for a list of organisations and helpline services that have information to support you.

More on racism and mental health

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

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