*5.5. Social Determinants of Health: The Impact of Racism on Early Childhood Mental Health*

In their review of the impact of racism on infant and early childhood mental health and socioemotional development. Berry, Tobon, and Njoroge (2021) found that young children are particularly impacted by experiences of and indirect exposure to racism [30]. The authors conclude that" racism is particularly nefarious to young children's socioemotional development" and has long term implications for mental health into adolescence and adulthood. Racism has unique impacts on children from the perinatal period, to the infant toddler period, and into pre-school and grade school. Moreover, children are affected both directly and indirectly by racism throughout their development. For example, racialized minority children are direct victims of racism in school environments, which negatively affects their mental health. Additionally, racism affects parenting practices and maternal/caregiver mental health, which then affects which negatively affects child mental health [30].
