States of Emergency

ABSTRACT

We are wrestling with so many heavy dilemmas in our country and world right now, and "lil' Rhody" as people fondly refer to our lovely Ocean State, is not exempt. The children's mental health crisis is one that impacts us all. Between 2009 and 2019, the rate of Rhode Island students reporting feeling "sad or hopeless" for a 2‐week period within the past year rose from 25% to almost 33%. And in 2019, 17% of middle schoolers and 13% of high schoolers "seriously considered suicide" within the past year (YRBS). In general, rates like these are disproportionally higher for those most at risk — people of color, LGBTQ, and those with disabilities. The inequality and injustice in our society is not only a barrier, but also a cause for those most at risk for physical and mental health issues, especially those of the BIPOC community. Much like lack of green spaces, housing, and adequate food options in marginalized communities, there are also fewer resources and many structural barriers to healthcare (including mental healthcare) for these children from communities of color.