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knowledge, and as we all know, knowledge is power,” said Joseph. Justina Schlund, senior director of Content and Field Learning at Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) in Chicago, said that emotional and mental wellness heavily influences students’ ability to learn and their healthy development, and throughout the pandemic there was a disproportionate impact on children of color.
Dr. Michael Lindsey, the dean and Paulette Goddard professor of Social Work at NYU Silver School of Social Work, studies child and adolescent mental health. He also helped create the report “Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America.”
Lindsey said that the COVID19 crisis in high poverty-impacted communities has led to “enduring struggles,” such as loss of life, disruption of quality of life, job displacement, and a disconnection of kids and adolescents from schools. Even though it’s two years removed from the initial pandemic, students are still adjusting or falling behind engendering a battle with depression, anxiety, and trauma, he said. In the AAKOMA study, depression was most severe among Native American, Latino/Hispanic, and Black youth while anxiety was highest among Latino/Hispanic youth. The symptoms of depression most often presented as kids “being tired and having low energy.”
“When you think about how our young people of color, that fatigue that you’re seeing that’s showing up in class––they’re putting their head on the desk and slumping down in chairs––that’s not necessarily seen as a child with depression,” said Breland-Noble. “That might be perceived as a child who’s lazy and disinterested.”
For anxiety, a feeling of being worried or nervous was universal, but each group showed slightly different signs as well. Black youth were more likely to struggle with deci-
Black for these students? sion-making and worry about bad
BT: Sometimes we don’t real- things happening as a result of anxiize what we are deprived of until ety, while Asian American Pacific Iswe experience it firsthand. I re- lander (AAPI) and Native American member how it felt to meet Brian youth tended to be avoidant of wor-
Moreland, an iconic Black pro- rying situations, said the study. ducer on Broadway, and feel- Lindsey posits that a contributing like I was talking to an old ing factor to the rising rates of youth friend. Though new to the indus- of color is a tendency towards pun32 • May 26, 2022 - June 1, 2022 try, he has always encouraged ishment of certain behaviors rather than mental health and behavioral support for kids. The school environment has to understand the nuanced presentations for kids that would warrant them a connection to mental health treatment, he said. “There was a Black kid that I worked with who was very depressed,” said Lindsey. “He said ‘when I’m sad or depressed, I feel like knocking someone’s head off so they can feel how I feel.’ And so if that kid goes and does that, he’s going to be pushed out. Suspended, expelled from school. Not saying it didn’t warrant that, but did anyone along the way ask him what he was sad about and can we address that.” Breland-Noble agreed that access to care is pivotal and that technological features of the 988 Lifeline, like texting, would benefit young people. But, a service lifeline necessitates cultural competency, especially with youth experiencing racial traumas or the impacts of systemic racism. “In some communities of color there’s a healthy fear that if the police are dispatched to deal with a mental health crisis, that could have a devastatingly negative impact,” said BrelandNoble. Lindsey fully supports the “promise” of the 988 Lifeline for providing a different type of response to mental health crises rather than relying on police. He criticized the U.S. for chronically underfunding mental health services and hopes that access will increase.
and supported my career, assuring me I’d be successful. There’s something so special and familial about Black camaraderie, and Brian’s support unlocked a confidence in me I hadn’t yet seen in myself. That is the power of a good mentor who looks like you. AmNews: When young people think of theater they may think of what they see on stage, but there is an entire world that’s behind the scenes in the areas of: arts administration, business administration, marketing, public relations/communications, finance/accounting, theater studies, human resources, ticketing/ sales/operations. How do you spark their interest in these fields in this fellowship?
BT: When you go to the theater, you see the talent bring a story to life on the stage. What many don’t know, though, is that there is an entire community of people behind the stage, hidden in the theater, and at nearby offices working tirelessly to create those magical, onstage experiences. The wealth of opportunity in the theater business is underdiscussed, and it is a formidable field to learn about and grow within. We hope our program will expose young people to that opportunity and give them the tools to join us in the commercial theater industry. AmNews: When I heard about this program I was so excited. These types of behind-the-scenes careers have never been something that Blacks could aspire to in the past. For years you might have one Black person in the room, because these were always fields dominated by whites. I thank God for the fellowship opportunity that BTC/BAA is offering young Blacks and hope you take advantage. Imagine being trained to be that valuable support system that is behind every successful production! When that curtain goes up you know you had something to do with it too! Get in your applications a.s.a.p.! These are opportunities that we are just now getting to partake in! Apply for your seat at the table!
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season,” stated Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “We provided bookbags and supplies for the children in Jamaica, Queens to ensure they were well prepared on their first day of school. These efforts go a long way in ensuring the success of students throughout the borough. Wishing all students the best of luck during the school year!”
“Education is key to unlocking future success and prosperity for all New Yorkers. That’s why I’m so grateful to union carpenters and contractors for their commitment to giving back to children and families throughout the City,” stated Council Member Francisco Moya. “I’m proud to say that we brought 100s of school supplies and book bags to Queens’ children. I hope these efforts helped lay the foundation for a great school year for all.”
“The young people in our state represent our future. That’s why ensuring all students have equal footing when starting off the school year is so important. Many students’ education was impacted as a consequence of the pandemic, so efforts like these are so important to rectify this and support our youth,” stated State Senator Julia Salazar. “Backto-school drives ensure that students will feel prepared and confident when they go back to the classroom this year. I’m grateful to the union carpenters and contractors for their partnership and continued commitment to giving back to Brooklyn communities.”
