The Facts

Why are we doing this work? Why does this work matter?

Nearly half of all mental health conditions emerge by age 14, yet early intervention remains limited for Black youth.
19.7% (6.1 million) of African Americans live with mental illness.
A 2019 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found nearly 5 million, or 16% of Black Americans reported having a mental illness. However, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receives it.
19.5% of youth live with major depressive disorder, yet 59.8% of youth with depression do not receive treatment.
34% of Black youth with mental health needs receive treatment, compared to 50% of white youth.
In a study by the AAKOMA project, youth of color reported engaging in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (22%), having suicidal ideation (27%), and attempting suicide at least once (18%). Additionally, youth of color experience racial trauma at higher rates, with 42% reporting exposure to at least one form of race-based trauma.
Suicide death rates for Black teenage girls increased by 182% from 2001 to 2017, a rate that has more than doubled compared to their white peers.
Black girls are three times more likely to be suspended from school than their white peers, often due to behaviors linked to unaddressed mental health struggles.
Black girls are 3x more likely to be incarcerated than white girls. Currently, 43% of girls in youth detention is Black.
Black girls are significantly more likely to be misdiagnosed or have their symptoms dismissed by healthcare providers.
Economic and systemic barriers prevent Black youth from accessing care—30% of youth of color who needed mental health treatment reported not receiving it.
Without access to mental health support and culturally relevant care, Black girls are at a disproportionate risk of experiencing untreated mental health conditions, increasing their vulnerability to academic struggles, criminalization, and social isolation.
In Virginia, 20.2% of youth aged 12-17 reported experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
33% of high school students in Virginia reported experiencing persistent sadness, feeling so hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks that they stopped doing usual activities.
In Virginia, Black girls in high school experience greater levels of distress, with the percentage reporting mental health challenges "Most of the Time" and "Always" notably higher than their middle school counterparts. This aligns with findings that as children get older, they may experience increased pressures related to academics, social relationships, and broader societal challenges.
The percentage of High School Black girls in Virginia reporting mental health challenges "most of the time" is 25.2%, which is similar to the middle school rate (18.1%).

Barriers to Mental Health Care for Black Girls

Stigma and Mistrust: Seeking mental health care can be seen as a sign of spiritual or moral weakness.
Underrepresentation of Black Providers: Less than 2% of mental health professionals in the U.S. are Black women, creating a significant barrier to culturally competent care. White mental health professionals often misdiagnose African Americans as having more severe disorders or do not provide the same level of treatment as they do for White clients.
Punishment Over Treatment: Black girls experiencing mental health crises are more likely to be punished or criminalized rather than offered support.
Economic and Systemic Disparities: Black girls face limited access to culturally responsive providers, which contributes to distrust and avoidance of care.
Social Stigma & Structural Barriers: Black girls may not engage in mental health services because of social stigma, apprehension about the efficacy of treatment, distrust of providers, and structural barriers such as unequal access to information and services.

The Importance of Continued Investment

Despite the urgent need, women-led and youth-focused nonprofits like MH Boxes receive only 1.8% of all charitable giving in the U.S.
Funding for Black-led mental health organizations remains disproportionately low, even though Black girls are at a heightened risk for untreated mental health conditions.

The Facts

Why are we doing this work? Why does this work matter?

Barriers to Mental Health Care for Black Girls

The Importance of Continued Investment

Donate now

Your support of only $35 provides one girl with a care box.

MH Boxes is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

The Facts

Why are we doing this work? Why does this work matter?

Barriers to Mental Health Care for Black Girls

The Importance of Continued Investment

Donate now

Your support of only $35 provides one girl with a care box.

MH Boxes is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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