218: Mental Health Care is Gun Violence Prevention

Recent studies have shown that firearm suicidality rates are rising among Black youth. But why? And is this trend truly new? And, what can we all be doing to prevent this loss of life? Dr. Alfiee Breland Noble, founder of the AAKOMA Project, which specializes in servicing the mental health needs of youth of color, and Aalayah Eastmond, Team ENOUGH founding member, and survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, join us to talk about the importance of prioritizing mental health in communities of color and how stigma and a lack of culturally competent resources can often make seeking help more difficult. We also break down the ways in which we all — no matter who we are — can better listen, and help, the young people in our lives.

Further reading:

• How Often Are Guns Involved in Accidental Deaths?(the Trace)
• State of Mental Health for Youth of Color 2022(the AAKOMA Project)
• Why Are More Black Children Dying by Suicide? (the New York Times)
• Firearm Deaths Grow, Disparities Widen (the CDC)
• Black Youth Suicide Rates Rising, Defying Historic Trends (New York University)