This Week in Hate highlights hate crimes and harassment around the country since the election of President Trump.
Women afraid to go out in public. College students struggling in school. Employees feeling unsafe on the job. People of all walks of life experiencing anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
These are some of the mental and emotional effects of what advocates say is a wave of hate crimes and racist harassment that started during President Trump’s campaign. Muslims, immigrants and members of other groups targeted with violence and intimidation are seeking help to deal with lingering trauma. But mental health groups and advocates are finding that the specialized support they need doesn’t always exist.
The Family and Youth Institute, which studies the mental health needs of American Muslims, has seen more reports of anxiety and depression since the campaign began, as well as more people seeking therapy and asking questions about mental health. It’s not only victims of hate crimes who are affected, according to Dr. Sameera Ahmed, the director of the institute — anti-Muslim harassment and political rhetoric are having a psychological impact on many American Muslims, regardless of whether they have been personally targeted.
