91% of BIPOC Youth Report Racial Trauma, New Study Reveals
- domea6
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
July marks BIPOC Mental Health Month, a time to elevate the stories, needs, and solutions impacting the emotional and psychological well-being of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This month, ARMHA-NJ joins national voices in amplifying research that brings visibility to the unique mental health experiences of BIPOC communities—especially our youth.
One of the most groundbreaking contributions to this conversation comes from The AAKOMA Project, a nonprofit organization based in Virginia committed to transforming mental health outcomes for Youth and Young Adults of Color. In May 2025, they released findings from the largest study to date on the mental health of BIPOC youth—a milestone that builds upon prior research from 2022 and paints a powerful picture of both pain and resilience.
Key Findings from the Study: 91% of surveyed youth reported experiencing at least one source of racial trauma 37% reported experiencing suicidal ideation
These numbers are more than statistics—they’re signals of a systemic issue often under-acknowledged in mental health settings: racial trauma.
According to ARMHA-NJ Co-Chair and board-certified clinical psychologist Susan Cohen Esquilin, Ph.D., ABPP, this study confirms what clinicians, educators, and advocates have long observed—yet often lacked data to support. "This is a significant study as it highlights what many have discussed about the specific needs of young people of color and particularly the impact of racial trauma on them, without having such clear data," she notes.
Understanding Racial Trauma
Racial trauma refers to the psychological harm caused by direct or indirect experiences of racism, discrimination, or systemic oppression. It is often chronic, cumulative, and unspoken. Youth may experience it in schools, online, in community interactions, or within institutional systems. And yet, these experiences may go unreported or misunderstood in clinical settings, leading to treatment that fails to address their root causes.
“Often, when these youth present for psychotherapy or are recognized as having difficulty by school personnel or others, they do not report experiences of racial trauma and may be inadequately treated as a result,” explains Dr. Cohen Esquilin.
An Urgent Call for Anti-Racist Mental Health Practices
This research underscores the need for anti-racist clinical frameworks that center the lived experiences of BIPOC youth. Mental health providers, school counselors, and community helpers must be equipped to identify the signs of racial trauma—even when it’s not explicitly stated—and create spaces where young people feel safe naming their experiences.
Dr. Cohen Esquilin emphasizes, "All helpers must consider the existence of racial trauma when they encounter BIPOC youths struggling with mental health problems. Such anti-racist awareness on the part of helpers will make treatment encounters much more successful."
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Get Involved with ARMHA-NJ
If you're passionate about advancing mental health equity and standing up against racial trauma, there's a place for you here. Join ARMHA-NJ in our mission to create anti-racist, inclusive mental health systems across New Jersey and beyond.
Learn more and become a member at www.armhanj.org
Let’s work together to build a future where mental health care truly supports and uplifts all communities.
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