Racism remains an ongoing issue in Canada. Experiencing racism can cause trauma and feelings of sadness, anxiety and hopelessness that can impact your mental health, physical health, freedom, safety and more. It’s also becoming more common for experiences of racism (and the systems that cause and uphold racism) to be shared in the news (e.g. social media, TV, radio, newspapers, etc.). Tragedy presented in the media may bring up feelings of fear, panic, anger, stress and more.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many cultural and systemic issues have been brought to the forefront, including:
- police brutality and anti-Black racism
- prejudice and hate crimes towards Asian communities
- limited access to healthcare for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities
- inequalities that cause racialized communities to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 (e.g. working conditions, access to services, social support, etc.)
- anti-Muslim attitudes and laws against religious expression
- violence and displacement caused by settler colonialism, in Canada and internationally
- and more
If you’ve experienced racism and/or have been impacted by any of the issues listed above, you’re not alone. While it’s not your responsibility to fix systemic issues, it’s important to take care of yourself. This could mean connecting with your community, putting your mental wellness first, taking breaks from social media, etc.
On this page, you can find tips for coping with difficult emotions, tools for taking care of yourself, stories from young people throughout Canada and additional resources.
You can choose to explore these if/when you need support.
Additional information and support
- Kids share experiences of anti-Asian racism in the pandemic (CBC Kids News)
- Stigma-Free COVID-19 Youth Wellness Toolkit (The Stigma-Free Society)
- Racism and Mental Health (Canadian Mental Health Association)
- Canadian Race Relations Foundation
- Asian Mental Health Collective
- We Matter Messages of Hope (We Matter)
- Black Youth Helpline
How can I access Kids Help Phone’s e-mental health support services?
Kids Help Phone is in solidarity with any community that faces injustice. If you’re looking for mental health support, Kids Help Phone’s services are here for you 24/7. Our professional counsellors and volunteer crisis responders are trained to support you with any issue on your mind.
