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It is undeniable that racism has a clear impact on the mental health of racialized people. The continued exposure to disparaging comments, threats or actions of physical violence and outright dehumanizing experiences have fostered a distinct mental health crisis within racialized communities. Shockingly though, many people – including mental health professionals and advocates – treat mental health and wellness with a one-size-fits-all mentality. While symptoms might be similar, the cause and treatment of mental health issues should be considered when we talk about mental health. For many racialized people, their experiences with mental health differ from white people because they are not white. We need to start recognizing the difference racism makes in these experiences if we want to form a comprehensive and inclusive understanding of mental health and wellness.
In recognition of this specific mental health battle racialized people face, we’ve made a two-part blog series breaking down how racism impacts mental health. In this first part, we discuss three important ways racism manifests and impacts the mental health of racialized people.
Racial trauma is a term used to describe the detrimental impact racism has on the mental and emotional well-being of racialized people. Therefore, this mental health issue specifically impacts only those that can experience racism or race-related discrimination. Though it is definitely found amongst individuals that have personally experienced race-related trauma, it can also emerge from witnessing racial violence or simply being exposed to it. For example, experiences of racial discrimination or racial biases in the workplace from colleagues or workplace leaders can lead to racial trauma.
While disappointingly not recognized by the DSM-5, racial trauma does share symptoms with other mental health issues like depression, anxiety and PTSD. Black and Indigenous people in Canada are especially at risk for racial trauma because of the consistent exposure to state-sponsored violence and discrimination against them in North America. Worryingly then, racial trauma has the potential to compound over time, as racialized people cannot escape the systemic nature of white supremacy that breeds these traumatic events.
Racial battle fatigue (RBF) also has a considerable impact on the mental health of racialized people. Originally coined by Dr. William A. Smith, RBF refers to the emotional, psychological, physiological, and behavioural toll that comes from the constant exposure to racial stressors — especially microaggressions, tokenism, and systemic inequities. Racial battle fatigue recognizes the constant stress, anxiety and fear racialized people face while attempting to live in a white-centred world. In short, racial battle fatigue encompasses the idea that racialized people are constantly in survival mode. In the workplace, RBF can come from fighting for recognition from your boss, or constantly being overlooked for promotions by white counterparts. Experiences like these result in feelings of insecurity, frustration and exhaustion. Thus, racial battle fatigue can (and does) easily escalate to more severe mental health concerns like depression and anxiety disorders.
Microaggressions are a subtle but still incredibly harmful manifestation of racism. Microaggressions have a powerful way of belittling racialized people, especially in group settings such as work meetings or social gatherings. Asking an Indian coworker where they learned to speak English, or assuming a Black coworker must be an immigrant and therefore needs an elementary breakdown on “Canadian” culture, are both examples of microaggressions.
Like racial battle fatigue, experiencing microaggressions can lead to self-doubt, depression, anger and feelings of isolation. In the West, where oppressive actions and racist ideologies against racialized people are embedded into our society, microaggressions are a real danger to their mental wellness. Worse, microaggressions are fairly commonplace and often go undetected by everyone except the people they actively harm. This means that they’re typically ignored and go unpunished. The result? Persistent harm to racialized people’s mental health.
At Gray Matter Health, we are committed to providing culturally-sensitive care and advancing anti-racism to promote a compassionate, equitable world for everyone. Click here to learn more about Gray Matter Health’s inclusive approach to mental healthcare. Follow us to stay tuned for part two of this series where we’ll discuss the systemic aspects of racism’s impact on mental health.
Have a question we didn’t answer, or a point we didn’t make? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below letting us know what you think about today’s blog.
References
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2021, February 12). Shining a light on mental health in Black Communities. Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Racial Trauma. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (2025, March 26).
Reed, J. (n.d.). Understanding racial microaggression and its effect on Mental Health. Pfizer.
Smith, W. A., Allen, W. R., & Danley, L. L. (2007). “assume the position . . . you fit the description.” American Behavioral Scientist, 51(4), 551–578.
Statistics Canada. (2024, November 4). Health Care Access and experiences among indigenous people, 2024. Statistics Canada.
By Shelbie Lyle, GMH Communications & PR Intern
Marci Gray is the lead psychotherapist and CEO of Gray Matter Health. She is an experienced speaker and corporate trainer as well as consultant and author who specializes in mental health and anti-racism work which is the focus of her PhD research. READ MORE
