Highly public anti-Black violence is associated with poor mental health days for Black Americans
David S. Curtis, Tessa Washburn, Hedwig Lee, Ken R. Smith, Jaewhan Kim, Connor D. Martz, Michael R. Kramer, David H. Chae
Abstract
Significance Violent acts that are widely publicized and perceived as anti-Black may harm the mental health of observers, particularly Black Americans. We identified 49 incidents of racial violence in the United States, occurring between 2013 and 2017 and receiving widely varying levels of search interest. We show that Black but not White Americans reported poorer mental health in weeks when two incidents of anti-Black violence occurred and when national interest was higher. Reducing racial violence, including police killings of Black individuals, is likely to benefit the mental health of Black Americans nationally.
Topics & Concepts
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance SystemMental healthDemographyHomicideMedicinePoison controlPopulationSuicide preventionPublic healthInjury preventionPsychiatryPsychologyEnvironmental healthNursingSociologyData-Driven Disease SurveillanceMigration, Health and TraumaRacial and Ethnic Identity Research