Racism is a stressor that can impact both your physical and mental health. It can lead to further disparities for people of color and affect overall quality of life.
Racism is a public health crisis. It can affect the health of people of color in two significant ways:
- Experiencing racism in your own life, or witnessing it in the world around you, can create mental and physical stress, and worsen preexisting health conditions.
- Systemic racism (which refers to racism that is deeply rooted in systems and policies) can
create a barrier for people of color when it comes to accessing healthcare, resulting in higher rates of illness and death from preventable conditions.
Both of these factors can create a cycle of stress that negatively impacts bodily systems and affects overall quality of life.
Learn more about how racism can affect the body, reducing race-based stressors, and taking care of your health as a person of color.
It is important to note that your race does not contribute to mental health problems; rather, it is the racism you experience in the world.
Racial stress or race-based stressors refer to the emotional response caused by racial discrimination. They can look like microaggressions, marginalization, and even being exposed to repetitive and distressing media coverage of discrimination.
People who experience racial discrimination may also have repeated flashbacks and reminders of the trauma, which can affect day-to-day life.
Racism can cause a buildup of stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the body. If it occurs frequently, it can worsen preexisting health conditions and increase the likelihood of physical and mental health conditions, such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Experts suggest that stress from racism can impact overall quality of life and may also increase the pace of biological aging.
Experiencing racism and frequent discrimination can affect your emotional well-being over time and result in trauma.
Research has found that this trauma can be passed down between generations. This is often referred to as intergenerational trauma or ancestral trauma. It describes how some behaviors and emotional responses in families can be internalized and indirectly passed on to children.
A 2018 review of research highlights that this occurs through epigenetic markers in the body, where social factors like your environment can influence your health and alter chromosomes. These epigenetic mechanisms can alter DNA for future generations and affect their well-being.
Examples of decolonizing healthcare include:
- redeveloping medical curricula to ensure diverse and culturally sensitive training
- implementing policies that address inequities and imbalances
- increasing patient education and tools for advocacy to help ensure individuals feel heard and have autonomy over their own healthcare
Experiencing racism can take a toll on your overall health — physically and mentally.
If you have experienced or witnessed racism, it’s important to take care of yourself and seek support. This can look different for everyone but may include:
- practicing self-care, such as journaling, meditating, or simply sitting in a quiet space where you can check in with yourself
- seeking out community and spending time in spaces where you feel safe and supported
- cleansing your social media feed by unfollowing triggering accounts, muting certain words, or temporarily deleting your apps
- speaking with a trusted loved one who are compassionate about and can understand how you may be feeling
- taking care of your basic health needs, such as ensuring you are getting enough sleep and eating well
Finding an anti-racist doctor
If racism is affecting your health, it can be beneficial to seek support from a culturally sensitive and anti-racist healthcare professional.
There are several healthcare directories that can connect you with a healthcare professional who meets your needs:
- Clinicians of Color, to find a culturally sensitive therapist for people of color
- HUED, to find a culturally sensitive specialist in any health area for Black, Latin@, and Indigenous people
- Health in her Hue, to find a culturally sensitive specialist in any health area for women of color
Racism is a stressor that can impact physical and mental health. It can create a cycle of stress that negatively impacts bodily systems and affects overall quality of life.
If you have experienced or witnessed racism, it’s important to take care of yourself and seek support.