Dover, de. – Alarming new statistics reveal that anxiety and mental illness remain high among young people.
Research shows that children and youth of color in the LGBTQ+ community tend to suffer more. African Americans and Latino/Hispanic Americans have the highest rates of diagnosis so far, with higher rates of anxiety and ADHD.
Erica Taylor Daniel, a family practice and psychiatric nurse, is the owner of A Peaceful Place Integrated Care. This is a practice that provides comprehensive primary care and addiction treatment to individuals with current or remitting substance use disorders and/or alcohol use disorders. Young people of color are not able to discuss issues within their communities, she said.
Unfortunately, she says, many communities of color are told that when it comes to mental health, sexuality and identity, they either go to church for refuge or don’t talk about it. This is due to historical stereotypes.
Taylor-Daniel says these practices are even more harmful. If you don’t have the ability to unpack already difficult topics, you open yourself up to unhealthy outlets. “It’s difficult for everyone, but there are certainly LGBTQ+ young people of color who are underrepresented in role models and people to talk to, and they face challenges in identifying their sexuality and being less open about it at home.” There are issues that may not be discussed.”
She added that while the report was well-intentioned, historically children of color have often been misdiagnosed, and these numbers may not reflect an accurate account. said. Many cases of PTSD and anxiety are misrepresented as mental illnesses, and in her experience, traumatized children receive diagnoses and medications that are not conducive to their overall mental health.
Open lines of communication and conversations with your child can make a big difference, and helping your child or loved one not feel guilty about their feelings can change the way they view themselves. There is, she says.
