Healing Invisible Wounds: Applying Optimal Theory to Address Race-Related Trauma for Black Students in Urban P-12 Schools

Black students have been well-documented as experiencing high rates of racial discrimination, which have been linked to mental health and trauma symptoms. Urban P-12 schools are known to be inundated with racism and race-related experiences, and Black students’ psychological well-being and academic success have been seriously threatened. This article offers a review of the racialized experiences of Black youth, specifically urban settings, with a conceptualization of race-related trauma, especially among adolescents. An overview of trauma-informed care is provided, along with considerations for applying Optimal Theory—an African-centered approach—to school-based mental health practices that aim to help Black students thrive.