Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Racism (Questions & Answers)

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Or it can be covert or harder to recognise, involving subtle comments that put a child or young person down and devalue their experience or identity. Do they recognise how your experiences of racism may intersect with other parts of your identity? For example your gender, religion or sexuality. Racial discrimination or racism is when someone is treated differently because of their race, ethnicity, nationality or colour. Any type of racism or racial discrimination is abusive and distressing for children and young people who experience or witness it. Have they had any experience of supporting people with the effects of racism? You can ask them directly. A responsible therapist will answer your questions honestly and openly.

It can mean the historical end of colonial rule. But it can also mean challenging the cultural dominance of Western ideas over others. It can mean breaking down the lasting impact colonialism has had on society. Confused or unsure about whether you've experienced racism. This is especially true if others ignore or deny your experiences. It can make you question your reality. This is sometimes referred to as racial gaslighting. Feel constant, exhausting and disempowering. For example, we may feel like we have to play different roles in different spaces to stay safe. This is sometimes called code-switching.For example – experiencing institutional racism at school as a child might make it more difficult to find work as an adult. Bias in hiring processes can make this even harder. This type of racism is subtle and can make it seem like it’s okay to dismiss racial prejudice or discrimination with comments like, ’it’s in your head’, or telling someone they’re ‘playing the race card’.

Unwelcome, lonely or isolated. Especially if people or organisations have said or implied that you don't belong.

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Charities and local services. Some local services offer free or low-cost support. Hub of Hope lets you search for local services near you. You can also filter results using their 'BAME Support' tag. Mind's Infoline could also help you find appropriate local services. Often when you're offered therapy, you might not be sure who your therapist will be. It can take time to develop trust and confidence in them. Anti-racism is taking action to challenge racism and promote equality. It is more than not being racist – it is about working against racism. Covert racism can be much harder to identify and challenge than overt racism. Especially when other people deny it, downplay it or become defensive about it. Or if you have an ongoing relationship with the other person.

This can all lead us to hold contradictory views about our heritage and skin shade. We may feel both 'too much' and 'not enough' at the same time. Show them our information about how racism can affect mental health. It's your therapist's own responsibility to educate themselves about racism. But they may welcome new information. Then at work, institutional and interpersonal racism can be a barrier to promotion. These barriers can affect your income.Anxious, fearful and unsafe. You may worry about how people are going to perceive and treat you. You might feel visibly different and vulnerable when you are around lots of people of a different race. You may spend time thinking about how you'll protect yourself before entering certain spaces. Interpersonal racism is when a person treats you poorly or unfairly because of your race. This might be colleagues, classmates, strangers, service staff, and even family members or friends. It can happen in person or online.

Be conscious or subconscious. You might not realise that some of your negative feelings stem from internalised racism or colourism. Not having enough money can have a negative effect on your health. This also contributes to people with first-hand experience of racism being under-represented in management jobs. Which makes it less likely that services will meet people's needs. Health problems can then further affect work and income. Work, study, money, housing and physical health are all connected to our mental health. This creates a vicious circle of disadvantage. Systemic racism and the pandemic Do they take your experiences of racism seriously? For example, by being respectful and not downplaying or denying them. Forced to suppress how you feel. You may find that you can't show or even fully feel your natural responses to your experiences. To avoid more abuse, and keep yourself safe, you may feel like you must not react to racism. This can leave you feeling numb, or mean that the experience stays with you for a long time.Do you feel able to be honest about your experiences of racism with them? For example, do they help you feel at ease?