Sep 19, 2024 Story by: Editor
Even after more than four years since George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, the aftermath of the violence continues to affect some members of the community.
Recent research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology highlights that Black Minneapolis residents experienced the most significant negative mental health impacts following Floyd’s murder, regardless of their zip code, compared to their white and Latino neighbors.
“Typically, in epidemiological studies, factors like wealth or socioeconomic status act as buffers against health problems. But we don’t see that here,” said Ryan Larson, coauthor of the study and assistant professor of criminology at Hamline University. “Both Black residents in disadvantaged and advantaged areas of Minneapolis saw a comparable increase in mental health diagnoses across the city.”
The research indicates a rise of 0.23 per 1,000 residents in mental health conditions among Black Minneapolis residents within a week of Floyd’s death, while no significant increase was observed for Latino or white residents. Larson and his team relied on in-hospital mental health diagnosis data from the Minnesota Hospital Association to assess the impact, acknowledging that these figures reflect severe cases compared to outpatient visits. National studies examining the wellness effects post-Floyd often rely on self-reported surveys, all in an attempt to measure “collective trauma… caused by extreme forms of police violence.”
Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the research team accounted for in their models. They factored in Governor Walz’s stay-at-home order, weather conditions, and prior mental health diagnoses, leading Larson to feel confident in the study’s results.
In terms of applying the findings to public action, Larson advocates for providing culturally competent mental health care and resources to those living in areas most impacted by police violence, such as Minneapolis’ north side, and the Phillips and East Phillips neighborhoods.
Furthermore, Larson emphasized the need to address police violence more broadly. “Tackling this issue will require multiple changes across our metropolitan area simultaneously,” he said, referencing improved accountability measures for law enforcement, enhanced training, and the persistent issue of gun violence.
Looking ahead, Larson aims to conduct a mixed-method study across the Twin Cities, combining hospital diagnosis data with interviews to explore the resilience strategies different communities use to cope with police violence, especially racialized police violence. Source: MPR News
