Mental Health and Self-Care for the Queer Activist of Colour
It’s understandable that at times, one finds themselves emotionally, mentally, and even physically drained given the state of current affairs. A number of studies have shown the deleterious impact of systemic realities on marginalized peoples’ health. Activism is often a channel through which these individuals find opportunities to connect with community, self-empower, and undertake sense-making processes in the context of a society that disadvantages them.
The system is not here to make it easier on vulnerable persons to undertake counter-hegemonic struggle. Researchers from the University of Rhode Island, Drs. Annemarie Vaccaro and Jasmine Mena, published the article linked below in 2011 wherein they studied the experiences of university-based queer activists of colour. The study uncovered the internal and external pressures inherent in donning the role of “activist” as well as the heterogeneous ways that these individuals cope with the challenges.
It’s Not Burnout, It’s More: Queer College Activists of Color and Mental Health
Leave a Reply