RECOGNIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

How prejudice and racism impact teens with an immigrant background

RECOGNIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

How prejudice and racism impact teens with an immigrant background

Reviewed by Deogratias Baghilishya, psychologist

Fights with classmates over racist remarks, teasing about their clothes, being excluded from group projects just because they’re different—these are just some of the challenges that teens with an immigrant background might face in their daily lives. As a parent, you might have a strong emotional response to these situations, such as anger or disbelief, especially if you’ve lived through these same things yourself. 

So, how do racism and prejudice affect young people’s mental health? And what can you do as a parent to help? 

Read on for answers. 

What are the signs that your teen is experiencing racism and discrimination?

Sometimes, teens have trouble telling their parents that they are a victim of racist stereotypes and prejudices. However, if you notice that your teen is saying or doing any of the things listed below, it may be good to talk to them about what’s going on. 

Examples of problematic remarks:

  • I don’t like living here, everything is hard. 
  • I’m worthless, I’m bad at everything I do. The future is hopeless and no matter what I do, I’ll never be able to change it.

Behaviours to watch out for:

  • Isolation, withdrawal, repeated absences from school
  • Meltdowns or anxiety attacks
  • Agitation, unusual remarks
  • Sudden stomach aches, excessive fatigue
  • Poor appetite and falling grades

How do racism and discrimination impact teen mental health🧠?

Most racist stereotypes, prejudices, and behaviours stem from a misperception or major discrepancy in cultural representations between the adolescent’s culture and their host culture. When these two representations collide, mutual misunderstanding and unacceptable behaviours such as discrimination and racism can result. 

Young people who have developed certain skills valued in their birth culture are suddenly questioned and singled out. This triggers a sort of identity crisis in them, especially since they are also in a season of life where they’re trying to find themselves.  Irritation, frustration, confusion, anxiety, sadness in girls, irritability in boys—the list of mental health consequences is long and can sometimes lead to depression.  

A heavy feeling of loneliness and homesickness may develop as the young person grieves their life in their birth country and the values there. This can lead to inner suffering and deeply rooted trauma. 

They will have an even harder time if their family is also suffering due to having lost their social and financial standing by leaving their country of origin, for example. 

 

 

How should I respond if my child experiences racism and discrimination 🤔?

The most important thing to do is avoid trivializing or downplaying what your teen is going through. We sometimes try to reassure our children by saying things like: 

  • It isn’t that big of a deal, it’ll be okay
  • Just be strong and you’ll get through it
  • It could have been worse

Statements like these invalidate your child’s feelings and can make them even more upset. 

It’s also important to reflect on and manage your own emotions so you can support your child emotionally without minimizing or dramatizing the situation. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your loved ones or your community if you’re having trouble regulating your emotions. It’s important for your child to be able to have a calm discussion with you in order to reflect on their situation constructively. 

  • What really happened?
  • How did you feel and why did it make you upset?
  • What made this feel like it was important to talk about?

Wrap up the discussion by working with your teen to find solutions in order to determine the best way to respond to these aggressions without causing themselves more problems.

What can I do to help my child deal with racism and discrimination?

If your child is bullied at school, the best thing to do is contact the principal. However, some newcomer parents do not understand the school system well enough to do so and may, in some cases, have to deal with staff members who are unprepared to manage this type of situation. 

In that case, the easiest thing to do is seek out support from community organizations and continue to closely monitor your teen’s behaviour at school. Is it increasingly difficult for them to attend? Do they lack motivation? Are there often notes in their agenda? 

You can also prepare yourself for these situations ahead of time by talking to your child about the challenges related to immigration. It’s important for them to understand that they will need to adopt new cultural references when they arrive in Canada. If possible, try to bring them to intercultural social events where they can meet other young people. This way, they will be able to grasp certain subtleties of the culture that cannot be learned from a book, but are extremely useful to internalize. 

When your child understands how others operate, they will be able to understand what may cause others to judge them. They’ll also gain a better understanding of their own identity and be able to get to know other people without feeling so threatened. As such, they will be on more solid footing to assert their own identity and teach others about who they are. 

The end goal is for the young person to develop their own culture based on their birth culture and the culture of their host country. 

What happens if young people are not helped to confront racist prejudices and discrimination?

Some young people are able to get through these situations on their own, but it can be a heavy burden for others. In the latter case, these teens risk developing a very negative view of their host society and may seek community in marginalized and violent groups such as gangs. 

The more often they face rejection, the more the young person will develop anxiety and avoidant reactions, such as skipping school or showing up late for work. They will develop low self-esteem and a tendency to withdraw into themselves. 

The wounds left by such trauma can run deep, especially because your teen will have suffered them at a young age.

But don’t forget that adolescents are highly resilient and make it through most of the time, as long as you believe in them.

Community resources:

Find other community organizations

NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL?

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