Racial Trauma and Mental Health

Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom Produced by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), this resource is designed for educators but is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to better understand racial trauma. The downloadable guide defines racial trauma and its effects at different ages and stages of development with ways to address it and also includes a list of supplemental resources. (10 pps.)

Comas-Díaz, L.; Hall, G. N.; and Neville, H. A. (2019). Racial Traum a: Theory, Research, and Healing: Introduction to the Special Issue. American Psychologist, 74(1), 1-5. Written by and for mental health professionals but a valuable introduction for anyone interested in an overview of this field, this resource has a useful bibliography with active links.

My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (book). Resmaa Menakem, therapist and trauma specialist, takes the reader through practices for healing racialized trauma carried in the bodies of black and other people of color, white people, and police. He contends that systemic racism is highly toxic and harms (in different degrees/ways) every body in the system. This embodied trauma needs to be acknowledged and healed in order to dismantle systemic racism. Introduction to his theory: Interview with Resmaa Menakem hosted by Krista Tippett (51-minute episode of “On Being”).

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing (book). Dr. Joy DeGruy, a researcher, educator and social work practitioner, addresses the residual impacts of slavery and the healing of racial trauma in her book. Online resources, including workshops and training opportunities, are at https://www.joydegruy.com/resources.

Family-Care, Community-Care and Self-Care Tool Kit: Healing in the Face of Cultural Trauma Produced by the Community Healing Network in collaboration with the Association of Black Psychologists by and for people of African ancestry.

Responding to Racism During the COVID-19 Outbreak Produced by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Discussion of anti-Asian racism around COVID-19. Addresses psychological impact and self-care for victims along with practical advice for bystanders and victims on challenging racist behavior of any kind when they encounter it.

PC(USA) Racial Justice Resources Excellent collection of resources to equip and support individuals and congregations in the work of dismantling structural racism.