Supporting a young person from a racially marginalised background “Equality should include equality of support regardless of societal background.” Amir, Youth MHFAider If you are supporting a young person from a racially marginalised background, and one that is different to your own, you may need to think about the words you use and how you express your ideas. Young people of the Global Majority in England can often face inequitable treatment based on their race or ethnicity. Religion can also be a part of someone’s cultural identity and intertwine with their racial background, which can mean that some young people experience both racism and religious discrimination at once. Racism comes in many forms, and it can be embedded into our systems and societal structures. A young person may see their culture being stereotyped or harmfully misunderstood, or they may receive subpar treatment from institutions such as doctor surgeries or school. Young people affected by racism may find themselves hiding part of their identity from the world, for example, changing the way they dress, adjusting their accent, or not going out in predominantly White populated areas (134). Young people who are living in England with refugee or asylum seeker status live with compounding risk factors of poor mental health. They may have experienced living within a war zone or under occupation. They may also have experienced displacement from their home or land, the fear of impending war, the loss or separation of family members or friends, abuse or exploitation, and/or inadequate treatment and living conditions while living in England. Whilst not all young refugees and asylum seekers will be a person of the Global Majority, you should bear in mind that, for
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