Tackle racism and improve support to protect young Black people’s mental health, say Young Changemakers

Racism is harming young Black people’s mental health and mental health services are not doing enough to mitigate these harms, according to a report from Centre for Mental Health, The Diana Award and UK Youth.

Two months after racist and Islamophobic riots swept across the UK, and more than four years since the murder of George Floyd, young Black people continue to face disproportionate threats to their mental health.

To address this, the three organisations created a groundbreaking three-year Young Changemakers programme, funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and Comic Relief. It supported young Black people’s social action projects to address the links between racial injustice and mental health among racialised communities in the UK.

The report, A Space To Be Me, shows how social action led by young people can address the reasons for mental health inequalities, for example by addressing hair discrimination faced by young Black women, and by tackling racist micro-aggressions in schools and a lack of effective support in health services.

Young Black people in the UK are more likely to struggle with mental health difficulties as a result of racism, discrimination and poverty. However, they face multiple barriers to mental health support and, as adults, have far higher rates of being detained using the Mental Health Act and much poorer outcomes from services.

More than 100 young people were involved in the programme, including as peer researchers. The young people learned the skills necessary to lead social action projects, and conducted both local and national campaigns to create change.

A Space To Be Me finds that involving young Black people in the design of mental health services and policies can break down some of these barriers, making support more effective and helping to reduce mental health stigma.

The report calls for cross-government action to tackle racism and its effects on young people’s mental health. That includes ensuring the new generation of open-access mental health hubs for young people promised in the Government’s manifesto are designed jointly with young people from racialised communities locally.

Melvin Riley, Young Changemaker, said: “The intersection of racism and mental health is a deep wound, one that young Black people are forced to carry in silence. This programme has illuminated the power of self-led action in healing those wounds, but it also exposes a stark truth: without systemic change, we’re merely patching up fractures in a broken system.

“Young Black voices aren’t just calling for inclusion; we are demanding a reimagining of our support systems—ones that recognise the intersection of the injustices we face and provide tangible solutions for our wellbeing. Being part of the solution and piloting ideas has shown that young Black people are the architects of our future. We are ready to drive lasting, enduring change, but we need systems that truly support and invest in that vision.”

Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, The Diana Award chief executive officer, said: “Young people with Black and Black mixed-race heritage continue to experience the deep scars of racism on their mental health, compounded by a lack of accessible and relevant support.

“The Young Changemakers programme has shown us the power of listening to, and learning from, young voices—those who understand these challenges first-hand. It’s crucial that we act now, dismantling systemic barriers and building an environment where every young person, regardless of their background, can thrive without fear of discrimination or neglect. Together, we can pave the way for a future where racial equity is an integral part of mental health support.’’

Andy Bell, Centre for Mental Health chief executive, said: “Young Changemakers have shown us what needs to happen to ensure young people from racialised communities have a fairer chance of good mental health. It’s time for policymakers, professionals and planners to listen to young people; to acknowledge the impacts of institutional racism on mental health; and to act on it so that future generations can enjoy better mental health.”

Ndidi Okezie OBE, UK Youth chief executive officer, said: “One in five young people in England have experienced mental health issues, with young Black people disproportionately affected, leading to higher criminalisation rates and a lack of suitable mental health support. That is why we must act now.

“There is much work to be done, but the Young Changemakers have produced a clear roadmap to improving mental health support for young Black people.

“We urge the Government to prioritise their promised Young Futures Hubs, to ensure all young people have access to high-quality early mental health support. But, as the Young Changemakers have highlighted, it is crucial the voices of young Black people are prominently included in their design and implementation, to ensure the support is effective for all and to reduce the stigma around mental health.”

To read the full A Space To Be Me report, click here.

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org 

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes 

Centre for Mental Health is an independent charity. It takes the lead in challenging injustices in policies, systems and society, so everyone can have better mental health.

The Diana Award was founded on the late Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change their community, their country and the world. We exist to empower young people to make that positive change. It does this by: unlocking potential; creating opportunities; and inspiring action.