Inside STAT: For Black youth, a time of upheaval takes a crushing toll on mental health

ASHLEY OTAH, LEFT, IN DALLAS; CECIL HANNIBAL IN LOS ANGELES; ZANE KEYES IN MONTCLAIR, N.J.; AND VISAYSHA HARRIS IN GRAYSON, GA. (ILLUSTRATION: STAT; PHOTOS COURTESY SHLEY OTAH, CECIL HANNIBAL, GABRIELLE GLASER AND VISAYSHA HARRIS)

Most Americans are dealing with elevated levels of anxiety and depression in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and young adults are among the hardest hit. But the problem is compounded for young Black people, who have not only had the pandemic upend their school year and job prospects, but are dealing with a barrage of news about police brutality in the Black community. A recent survey found Black people were more likely than white individuals to report psychological distress, while also being less likely to seek treatment. In a new story, STAT contributor Gabrielle Glaser talks to four Black young adults about how they're coping with the stressors in their life. Visaysha Harris, a 22-year old from Georgia, says she moderates her news consumption: "I want justice but I have to separate this from my own mental health and making sure I’m not taking too much of it all in." Read more here.