Addressing urban trauma in the Baltimore Metro Area

Urban trauma is a complex issue that is closely intertwined with mental illness. Research has revealed several risk factors associated with urban trauma, including discriminatory practices such as redlining and residential segregation, mass incarceration, and sub-optimal lending. These factors often keep Black and African American people and people of color in a cycle of poverty, which can lead to a higher risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as malnourishment, exposure to violence, exposure to abuse, and broken homes. All of these experiences can have a significant impact on people's mental health.

In Baltimore City, for instance, 80% of adults have reported experiencing one or more ACEs, and 40% have reported experiencing three or more. This puts people at a much higher risk of developing mental health issues, mainly when mental health care is difficult to access due to the costs and the shortage of mental health practitioners. Therefore, there is a clear need for preventative solutions at the systemic level and an increased focus on making behavioral health care more accessible.

Unfortunately, there has been a rise in self-reported suicide attempts among Black adolescents, which have increased by nearly 80% from 1991 to 2019, while the prevalence among other races and ethnicities has not changed significantly. Experiencing racial discrimination, microaggressions, and even vicarious trauma from news headlines about racially-motivated tragedies are all underlying factors that can impact Black youth’s mental health.

It is clear that more accessible mental health resources are needed, and organizations such as NAMI Metro Baltimore are working to make a difference. They are taking root in West Baltimore at the Bon Secours Resource Center, where they provide free support group programs to meet the community where they are. NAMI is also working to end the stigma around talking about mental health and has partnered with organizations such as the No Boundaries Coalition, a summer camp for youth who have witnessed gun violence, through their Ending the Silence presentations to normalize conversations about mental health.

The City of Baltimore is also taking steps to support children who have experienced trauma, for example, by supporting the Center for Hope's child advocacy center. Other initiatives, such as the Trauma Informed Care Communities, offer mental health and healthcare practitioners training to ensure that they address any behavioral or health concerns through a trauma-informed lens.

In conclusion, urban trauma and mental illness are complex issues that require a multifaceted approach. It is essential to address the systemic issues perpetuating poverty, discrimination, and other risk factors for trauma. Additionally, mental health care must be made more accessible to those who need it, and the stigma surrounding mental health must be eradicated. Through community-based programs, training for practitioners, and advocacy efforts, we can work to support those who have experienced urban trauma and ensure that they receive the care and resources they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

*Special thanks to Nova Getz, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore.