Recent historical, political and public health events, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic, have collectively contributed to increased stress and mental health challenges among many groups of people — including adolescents in racial and ethnic minorities.

In a study published Feb. 1 in Academic Pediatrics, researchers investigated the pandemic’s effect on preexisting mental health disparities among youth, and found rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors significantly increased during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic period, especially among Black, Asian and Hispanic females.

The first author of the study, Laura Prichett, Ph.D., M.H.S., emphasized the urgency to address the real problem of increased mental health challenges among adolescents in racial and ethnic minorities.