Mental Health is Political: Issue 3
A newsletter about the intersection of politics and mental health.
May 16, 2023 - Issue 3
I’ve spent the better part of a week horizontal on my couch or in bed recovering from COVID-19, so this newsletter is a little bit shorter than usual. I fell asleep during just about every show or film I tried to watch, but did manage to make it through most of a documentary about tourists trapped on an island of the coast of New Zealand after a volcano erupted (cue nightmares) and started HBO’s Love & Death (not to self: stay away from friends with axes). I think we also single handedly kept Doordash1 in business this week.
Okay, enough about me. Let’s dive into this week’s newsletter.
Mental Health in the News
The good. Donald Trump was found liable for sexual assault and defamation in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. This is not the first woman to allege that Trump sexually assaulted them, but this is the first time he has been held accountable in some way. Sexual violence has serious negative impacts on survivors’ mental health, including increasing risk for experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) has free, confidential resources for survivors. Holding Trump accountable for sexual assault in this case is an important moment for all survivors — and I hope we’ll see more of this accountability moving forward.
Interested in the impact of social media on mental health in teens? Check out the recently released APA advisory on social media use in adolescents. TL;DR: social media is not all bad nor is it all good. It’s complicated. At its best, social media can be used to build social connection and community building. At its worst, it facilitates harassment, discrimination, and can expose teens to harmful behaviors. Reach the full advisory here.
The not so good. There has been lots of talk in the news this week of Title 42, a pandemic policy that restricted immigration to the U.S. which ended on Thursday of last week. Not surprisingly, news outlets drummed up panic about an expected surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Well, that’s not what happened. What does this have to do with mental health? People who face legal vulnerability based on their immigration status in the U.S. may also experience adverse mental health outcomes. Further, anti-immigration rhetoric and racism may exacerbate racial and ethnic health disparities in the U.S. Political anti-immigration rhetoric matters. Instead of villainizing people who are seeking asylum in the U.S., let’s consider why they may be fleeing their home country and offer compassion and empathy.
The this is bad, y’all. You may think of Florida, Tennessee, and Texas when you think of the so-called “culture wars” many GOP governors insist they are fighting, but they aren’t the only states to be paying attention to. In another installment of anti-LGBTQ+ hate from the GOP, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt plans to veto a bill that would renew funding for PBS after falsely claiming the public news organization was indoctrinating and “sexualizing” children by exposing them to queer characters. Why is this really bad, y’all? First, we know that access to quality educational programming can help children learn skills like problem solving, mathematics, and socioemotional learning. Second, representation in the media can promote positive mental health outcomes in LGBTQ+ youth. The rate at which GOP-led states are acting to ban access to books, movies, and other media that display any reality other than a cishet, white-dominated one is extremely alarming.
Take Action. You know the drill. Channel those feels into action, and let’s keep hope alive and well. It’s the only way we move forward, especially when everything seems to be on fire.
Wishing every mom reading a belated happy mother’s day! Too many people in the U.S. are incarcerated – and far too many of them are parents. Support the National Bail Out fund’s Black Mama’s Bail Out initiative, a Black-led collective working to reunite parents and their children and work towards abolition. Donate to #FreeBlackMamas National Bail Out fund here.
The GLAAD Media awards were also this past weekend (and I’m awaiting one of my favorite blogs – GoFugYourself – coverage of this year’s award show fashion). To celebrate, donate to local and national organizations supporting LGBTQ+ people and their rights. Shout out to a few of my favorites: GLSEN Rainbow Library, Inclusion Tennessee, Oasis Center of Nashville, & Youth Pride RI.
Support those on the ground in Texas who are fighting for immigration rights by donating to RAICES, an organization providing free and low-cost legal services to immigrant families.
Lastly, some very important recommended reading: Brittany Packnett Cunningham’s piece in The Cut: “The Cost of White Discomfort.”
And with that, it’s time for me to take another nap. Thanks for reading, sharing, and subscribing to Mental Health is Political!
If you’re in Nashville, I highly recommend Proper Bagel’s matzo ball soup – I swear it has healing powers. A huge thank you to my dear friend Meryl for having it delivered to our doorstep this week!