The Roots Initiative 10-Point Plan for Black Mental Health & Wellness
The pain and struggle we see in our communities didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the result of generations of trauma that never got the chance to heal, and systems that were built to keep us surviving, not thriving. For centuries, Black people have faced things like forced displacement, slavery, incarceration, housing discrimination, pollution in our neighborhoods, and being left out of the care we deserve. That kind of harm doesn’t just disappear, it gets passed down. And when we don’t have access to healing, it shows up in how we act, how we feel, and how we treat ourselves and each other. A lot of us are navigating anxiety, depression, grief, and stress, but instead of getting support, we’re too often met with judgment, punishment, or silence. Schools, hospitals, and other systems are supposed to help us, but instead they ignore what we need and leave us out of the conversation. This isn’t about something being “wrong” with us, it’s about policies and systems that have been wrong for a long time. When there’s violence or crisis in our communities, it’s usually a sign of unhealed harm, not a reflection of who we are. If we really want to build safer, stronger, more joyful communities, we have to start by investing in our mental health, our wellness, and our wholeness. It’s time to move beyond conversations and commit to real change. That’s why we’re demanding more than awareness, we’re demanding action. This 10-point platform is a blueprint for what real investment in Black youth mental health and wellness looks like, rooted in our voices, our needs, and our power to heal, thrive, and lead.
Our Demands
1
We demand fully funded, year-round access to community-based mental health clinics and school wellness centers that are rooted in Black cultural healing traditions and led by Black therapists, counselors, and wellness practitioners.
2
We demand that every school include full-time mental health professionals, social workers, therapists, peer support staff, and ongoing trauma-informed training for educators and staff.
3
We demand that no student be suspended, expelled, or punished for showing signs of trauma or distress. Our responses to youth in crisis must be rooted in care, not discipline.
4
We demand youth-led wellness centers, community gardens, and creative healing hubs in every Black neighborhood, offering art therapy, meditation, peer circles, movement, and joy-based spaces that reflect our culture.
5
We demand that Black history, mental health literacy, and lessons on systemic oppression be taught in schools, so youth understand the context of their experiences and the tools to heal and lead.
6
We demand guaranteed job programs, paid internships, housing support, and basic needs security for Black youth and their families, because economic violence creates emotional distress.
7
We demand that cities and schools redirect funds toward public health, youth programs, mental wellness, and restorative practices that center community care and conflict transformation.
8
We demand accessible family therapy, culturally rooted parenting support, and community healing circles that strengthen relationships across generations.
9
We demand public acknowledgment of how schools, healthcare institutions, and governments have contributed to Black mental health disparities, and the implementation of clear, accountable plans for healing and repair.
10
We demand that Black youth be given real seats at decision-making tables, with influence over budgets, programs, and policies that shape our wellness and our lives.