9.3 ADOLESCENT IDENTITY AND RACISM

Abstract

A focus on identity and an increasing capacity for abstract and moral reasoning are hallmarks of adolescent development. Following the deaths of George Floyd and others, along with the structural inequities noted in the infection rate and deaths of minorities secondary to COVID-19, there has been a societal reckoning on the effect of racism. This has attracted constant media attention to which adolescents have been inundated, leading to increasing anxiety, depression, and vicarious trauma. This is on top of the chronic stress those of marginalized communities might have experienced from direct exposures to racism. This presentation will explore the concept of race from the developmental perspective of the adolescent. We will discuss the different levels of racism, the unique lens that the pandemic has given on its influence on the social determinants of mental health in adolescents, and the role that child and adolescent psychiatrists can play. Brandon Newsome, MD, will ground the session with clarifying terminology such as racism, antiracism, prejudice, and social determinants of health, to ensure a common language. We will highlight key issues in the current syndemic of racism and COVID-19 and the way in which it has influenced outcomes of physical, mental, and social determinants of health in adolescents. We will then showcase how these issues might present in clinical encounters with adolescents. Finally, we will discuss how child and adolescent psychiatrists converse with teens on racism, social determinants of health, and antiracism. The audience will be engaged with questions, polls, and cases. Participants will be able to: 1) meaningfully discuss the different forms of racism and understand the social determinants of health; 2) recognize stressors of the current syndemic on behavioral and social determinants of health, in particular as it relates to adolescent development; and 3) discuss unique opportunities of psychiatrists in engaging and advocating for antiracist practices when working with adolescents and their families. This presentation will highlight specific challenges that 2020 and 2021 has brought regarding concerns of racism as experienced by adolescents, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and unique opportunities to address this with our adolescent patients.