Retando la invisibilidad: Inclusión de variables étnico-raciales en la recopilación de datos para enfrentar el racismo anti-negro en la salud mental

The effects of systemic racism on the mental health of Black people have been widely studied in the United States of America and other countries. However, in Puerto Rico there is no reliable data that allows us to know the extent of the negative consequences of racism and discrimination based on skin color in our society. Furthermore, the racial categories of the census are not appropriate for Puerto Rico. To eliminate ethnic-racial inequalities in mental health, it is essential to have reliable statistical information that demonstrates patterns of racial exclusion and colorism in issues such as: poverty, income, gender, health, access to employment opportunities, education, housing, mortality, incarceration, migration, violence, and police brutality, among others. In this article, we discuss the importance of including questions that address different ethnic-racial dimensions in Puerto Rico’s government agencies and nonprofit organizations forms and applications. Final recommendations are presented to promote the visibility of Black people in the context of Puerto Rico.