Black youth who experience community violence occupy multiple environments with varying levels of influence on how they display resiliency to prevent adverse mental health outcomes. Considering the recent rise of mental health concerns (i.e., increase in suicidal outcomes) among Black youth, along with the abundance of research illustrating the detrimental impact of community violence, more research is needed to examine how different environmental factors (e.g., family and school) shape how youth protect their mental health while displaying resiliency navigating community violence. The purpose of this study was to examine how family and school contexts predict Black youths’ ability to display resiliency to navigate community violence and prevent adverse mental health outcomes. This study utilized a path analysis to examine the associations between parent relationships, parent bonding, school climate, resilience to adverse community experiences, community violence, and mental health among 548 Black adolescents in Chicago. Findings highlight that parent relationships, parent bonding, and school climate influence the association between resilience to community violence and mental health outcomes among Black youth. Implications for mental health practice and policy among Black youth are discussed.

Purpose: This review discusses the effectiveness of African-centered interventions (ACIs) with Black youth. Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive search of ACIs using electronic bibliographic databases to identify studies completed in the United States and reported in peer-reviewed journals. A total of 10 studies were identified that met the full inclusion criteria of the review. Results: Collectively, we found that ACIs are associated with positive outcomes in Black youths’ academic achievement, self-concept, cultural identity, and behaviors. However, there was a noteworthy amount of heterogeneity in studies’ methodological rigor. Discussion: The small number of studies identified support the need for additional research with high standards of methodological rigor to further determine the effectiveness of using ACIs over universal interventions with Black youth.

Purpose: Few interventions focus on the unique developmental contexts specific to Black adolescent girls living in the United States. This article conducts a scoping review to identify interventions targeted at the well-being of Black adolescent girls. Method: The authors conducted a comprehensive search using electronic databases to identify peer-reviewed journal articles that center interventions to address the well-being of Black adolescent girls. Results: Of the 3,144 unique records identified, eight peer-reviewed articles met the criteria for inclusion. Most interventions focused on issues related to sexual health ( n = 4), followed by interventions focusing on enhancing cultural values ( n = 3), and obesity prevention ( n = 1). Four interventions were both culturally and gender-responsive, three interventions were primarily culturally responsive, and one intervention was primarily gender-responsive with all articles focusing on Black girls’ well-being. Discussion: More interventions are needed that center on the distinct and intersectional challenges and strengths that Black adolescent girls experience within society.

Suicide among Black adolescent youth has steadily increased in recent years, yet few studies describe how facets of social identity shape suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) during this critical...