It’s a hard time to be a young person in this country. But while awareness has slowly been growing around a mental health crisis among young people — often focused on social media, COVID lockdown hangovers, and financial pressures — one group is often overlooked.
As Sindy Benavides and Dr. Cheryl Aguilar report this week, pressures are especially acute for immigrant kids. Against a background of hateful rhetoric, they’ve seen their communities raided, their families separated, and often they’ve even been detained themselves. And there are growing signs that it’s all taking a toll on their mental health.
“Let’s be clear: immigration policy is mental health policy,” Sindy and Dr. Aguilar conclude. “Reducing detention and prioritizing family unity are not just moral or political acts — they are public health interventions.” They suggest several steps for state and local governments to take.
Also this week, Michael Huggins explains how apps like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and others use algorithms to determine just how low a wage their often desperate workers will accept. He calls for transparency, because people shouldn’t be paid differently for the same work. And Mitchell Zimmerman highlights the white supremacist logic behind recent Supreme Court decisions about voting rights and congressional districts.
New This Week…
ICE: The Mental Health Emergency We Can No Longer Ignore | Sindy Benavides and Dr. Cheryl Aguilar
Anti-immigrant policies are fanning the flames of a youth mental health crisis. Here’s how governments can respond.
Big Tech Built a Gig Economy That Works Against Us | Michael Huggins
Surveillance pricing is squeezing workers. Requiring transparency is the first step in fighting back.
It’s Always Been About Race | Mitchell Zimmerman
A closer look at the Supreme Court’s indefensible “whites-first” reasoning on gerrymandering.
In Case You Missed It…
It’s Possible to End Corporate Influence in Politics | Sonali Kolhatkar
There’s more money in politics than ever. But some state governments are finding ways to fight back.
Wages Haven’t Kept Up — And Working Families Are Paying the Price | Gabriela Ramirez-Perez
Lawmakers have passed the buck on raising the minimum wage. Voters are taking matters into their own hands.
Trump Is Forcing Coal Pollution on Consumers and Communities | Jim Hightower
The president’s unilateral moves on coal are exposing more Americans to toxic mercury pollution.
Don’t Expect Cheap Gas Anytime Soon | Jeff D. Colgan
The Iran War has cost Americans nearly $50 billion at the pump. We should hold the leaders responsible for that pain accountable.
