2 minute read
RACISM AND MENTAL HEALTH
from February 2022
by The Eyrie
Effects of racism on student mental health If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, talk to a counselor or visit Student Center East. Cultural liaisons, located at Room 155, are also here to help and connect you with resources.
BY IKRAN ABDI AND ASHLEE BURNES
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What you may consider a funny joke may actually have a negative effect on someone else’s mental health. Mental health issues like PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and more can stem from experiencing racism according to Medical News Today, and for students, they experience racism somewhere that is supposed to be a safe place: school.
From seeing racism online to experiencing it firsthand at school, “racism and microaggressions have definitely taken a toll on my mental health,” junior Chouaib Hamila said.
Racism is something that many people of color can say that they’ve experienced within their school: “I’ve been called countless names, taunted for my ethnicity and so much more since elementary school. It’s something that you eventually just get used to,” says an anonymous 10th grader. One UCLA study found that young aduts who are exposed to frequent discrimination are 25 percent more likely to have mental health issues. For people of color, it usually starts within the school as microaggressions. “Microaggressions will turn into macroaggressions and it will affect how they view the world,” Marian Mohamed, AVID teacher and advisor for BSU, said.
“I’ve had so many conversations with students where people have said things about not continuing because of racism. It can affect our mental health. We want our students to know that their voices matter.” “If we don’t handle these things then how can we say we’re a welcoming school”? Mohamed said. Mohamed has noticed that in EPHS, especially in recent years, more has been done to combat and dismantle racism. However, she says, “I don’t think anything is enough. Even if we were talking about race every day, even if we had equity committees the work never ends.”
Although discussions about race have increased within the past two years at the school, speaking about racism can sometimes make people feel uncomfortable, sad or angry, especially when they are the people impacted by it.Conversations in class can impact POC students differently.
Sophomore Mariam Galbeite believes that speaking up is difficult. “When you’re in a class debate or discussion and being the only person of color in that class, you just don’t know what to say and anxiety runs through your thoughts.”
Galbeite would like to see more safe spaces in the school and more staff equipped with the knowledge to speak with students about race. “I feel like you have these counselors and these deans, and they are amazing people but they can’t talk about their personal experiences,” Galbeite said
Mohamed stresses the importance of our school being safe and welcoming for POC students. “Our school must be a safe haven for students of color,” she said.
POC Mental Health Hotline - (410) 338-2642
