Racial trauma is real. It’s not just the physical acts of violence, but also the psychological experiences we have witnessing these events in person, on the news, and on our social media feeds and timelines.
Checking in on your mental health when you’ve experienced or witnessed acts of racial violence is critical to your personal wellness. We created a list of things you can do to help cope with processing racially traumatic events:
- Cry
- Take a breath
- Take a walk
- Movement
- Take a day off
- Journal
- Talk to a friend
- Listen to music
- Creative expression
- Curate safe spaces to process or to be silent
- Healthy Distractions
- Get professional support
It’s okay to give yourself permission to take a time out for your mental health. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the news on your television or social media feed, here’s some immediate steps you can take:
- Turn off the news.
- Don’t engage in debates online or offline.
- Log off of social media.
Get quiet if you need to and remember to take plenty of deep breaths throughout the day.
The Ladipo Group was founded to increase access to Black therapists in Philadelphia and decrease the stigma of mental health treatment. With our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting we collaborate with organizations and institutions to create equitable spaces and opportunities for Black, Brown and African Americans to thrive.