Multiracial people may have an increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions. Racism is a significant factor in this increased risk.
People of two or more racial backgrounds can experience prejudice from multiple communities and often navigate complex internal journeys relating to culture and identity.
At the same time, factors such as discrimination and bias contribute to mental health issues in various ways, while also presenting barriers to seeking and accessing treatment.
Research has examined the increased risk of mental health conditions among multiracial people.
Multiracial individuals may face unique and significant mental health challenges. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), they might have a higher risk of mental health issues than people from a single racial background.
Several factors contribute to this increased risk:
Self-doubt
The ADAA states that many people of multiracial heritage experience feelings of self-doubt related to their identity. A person might experience confusion or feel the need to adjust certain aspects of their identity in different contexts.
Communities of color also face structural and interpersonal discrimination, prejudice, microaggressions, and exclusion. These factors can significantly affect a person’s mental health.
Family relationships
According to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, members of multiracial families can experience certain unique issues that may affect well-being.
For example, it suggests that siblings might feel tension around differences in skin color, eye color, hair texture, or facial features. Children from multiracial backgrounds may also require support and guidance from family members to deal with discrimination.
Wishing not to make race “an issue” at home may lead some families to avoid talking about these stressors. However, not speaking about them may lead children to experience difficulties navigating prejudice or other issues they encounter outside the home environment.
Internalized racism
According to a 2020 meta-analysis, internalized racism is significantly related to negative mental health outcomes, particularly in the United States.
The analysis defines internalized racism as an important element of the system of racial oppression, wherein people of color adopt negative beliefs about the racial group or groups to which they belong that are held by members of the white majority group.
Although its authors state that the findings of the analysis mostly relate to Black African and African American individuals, they note that recent studies of internalized racism within multiracial samples indicate similar results.
The ADAA notes that while coming from a culturally diverse background can present challenges that affect mental health, being part of a multiracial community also helps build certain characteristics that support mental health, such as:
- empathy
- tolerance
- adaptability
- creativity
- appreciation of others
- open-mindedness
Many mental health practitioners have experience, cultural understanding, and openness when discussing and treating mental health conditions in multiracial people. It is best to seek a therapist who:
- has the relevant training and experience
- considers a person’s cultural beliefs and practices when administering treatment
- understands the social and emotional dynamics involved in an individual’s racial and ethnic identity
Read about racism and mental health.
The ADAA suggests that people of two or more racial backgrounds may have a higher risk of the following mental health conditions:
A 2024 systematic review of studies among multiracial and multiethnic populations found that over half of participants reported at least one mental health concern, with high rates of the following conditions:
- anxiety
- depression
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- suicidal thoughts and behaviors
The risk of having symptoms of these conditions increased with the number of traumatic or discriminatory events a person experienced. Past racial trauma may increase the risk of people of color meeting criteria for PTSD, and stress can also affect the way racism influences mental health.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
In 2021, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported the following statistics among individuals who identified as part of the non-Hispanic multiracial category:
- 34.9% reported mental illness, compared with 22.8% of U.S. adults as a whole
- 52.2% received treatment for mental illness, compared with 47.2% of all U.S. adults
- 8.2% had experienced serious thoughts of suicide, compared with 4.8% of U.S. adults as a whole
A 2024 review found that multiracial individuals generally had worse outcomes than people from a single racial background with the same mental health issues. The outcomes varied depending on the specific multiracial subgroup and the complexity of a person’s identity, and experiences of discrimination worsened these outcomes.
However, studies have also identified factors that may reduce the risk of mental health conditions in multiracial individuals. For example, a 2018 study of 498 multiracial children in grades 6 to 12 found that a strong ethnic identity had links to improved self-esteem and a lower risk of substance use disorders.
Research into the multiracial experience of mental health conditions is ongoing, and existing studies are limited. In the U.S., this is partly because people could only select one ethnicity on the census until 2000.
As a result, health authorities have historically underestimated the rate of mental health conditions in multiracial populations. This may have led authorities to allocate fewer resources, form fewer public health strategies in response, and underfund the tackling of inequities in treatment.
Read about the effects of racism on mental health.
How can multicultural factors affect mental health?
Multicultural factors may lead to complex questions around identity and difficulties in finding a balance between cultural identities. Discrimination, prejudice, and exclusion from monoracial communities, as well as societal or familial pressure to “fit” within a single racial category, might increase the risk of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
What issues do biracial children face more?
According to the ADAA, anxiety and depression symptoms might be more likely in young multiracial individuals as they progress through school, talk with peers, and start to explore their identities and futures. In one study, multiracial students showed higher rates of mental health conditions and fewer protective factors than their white peers.
Mental health resources
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and resources on mental health and well-being.
Multiracial people may be more likely to develop depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders than people from a single racial background. They may also have a higher suicide risk.
Researchers have called for tailored interventions and more inclusive research methodologies to help address these issues.
If a person wishes to consult a mental health practitioner, finding a therapist who has experience working with people with multiple racial identities can help make treatment more effective.