This Clinical Trial is Centering Black Teen Mental Health in Chicago

Black and Latino teens face a disproportionate burden of mental health challenges. Studies show they experience higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to their white peers. This disparity is linked to the chronic stress caused by racism and discrimination. A new, groundbreaking study by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is exploring an untapped way to address this issue: youth-driven racial justice activism. The five-year study, funded by a $3.8 million grant, will investigate whether participating in social justice campaigns can improve mental health outcomes for Black and Latino teens in Chicago. Researchers will recruit 300 teens and randomly assign them to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive intensive summer training on advocacy skills, empowering them to create and implement impactful campaigns for racial justice. The control group will learn valuable life skills, but not focus on activism. This unique study design allows researchers to isolate the impact of activism on mental health. Teens in both groups will be assessed for depression symptoms and physiological markers of stress, such as blood pressure and inflammation, at the beginning of the study and again at regular intervals over two...