What 7 Young People Want Harris-Walz to Improve in Health Care

Illustration by Demis Courquet-Lesaulnier.

Reproductive care, mental health care, and preventing opioid use are some the top concerns young people have. Here are their perspectives.

By Anissa Durham

As the Democratic National Convention kicks off, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, now officially the party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees, are being credited with bringing something back to politics that’s been missing for a while: joy.

Americans can expect speeches about what the party stands for, and a rollout of the Harris/Walz platform — including what they plan to do about health. But will a Harris-Walz administration listen to the young Black voices who are leading so much of the change our democracy needs?

As Nov. 5 quickly approaches, many young people are calling for health care reform, drug price caps, easier access to mental health care services, and federal policies to streamline health care services.

“What I really love about young people now, is their enthusiasm and determination in not settling for the bare minimum,” Monica Edwards, 32, senior manager of public policy at Power to Decide says. “That’s something I’ve been excited to see from Gen Z and the younger generations, that there is an engagement in public policy — and really pushing policymakers and people in power to give us what we deserve.”

In conversations with Word In Black, seven Black Americans across the country shared what they want to see changed and improved in the American health care system. Here are their stories in their own words, edited for brevity and clarity.

Micaela Parker, 26, Denver, senior legislative aide

We are the only country that has the rates of death in Black and Brown communities in the way we do. Colorado has made incredible strides to make sure Black women’s health care is taken into consideration, and that they have ways to advocate for themselves. I’m hoping that these policies at the state level can be amplified at a federal level.

Photo of Micaela Parker. Courtesy of Parker.

As an Afro-Latina woman who has dealt with anxiety and depression, it’s been hard for me to navigate that. I have a lot of family members who served in the military, and I think about their access to (mental health care) as veterans. We say we support the troops, but we really don’t. People go to early graves because of not being able to help themselves.

I’d really love to have more policies that are driven in a way that sustains families. I’d love to see parental leave — and ways that we can create more facilities for health care practitioners to help people. America has a lot of money, and I wish that we would use it towards things that are going to support us.

Why would I want to have a child if I felt that my government, if I needed support, would not be there for me?

In Colorado, as a sanctuary state, we’re dealing with a lot of immigration, which I think is beautiful. I don’t really believe in borders, their geopolitical landscapes that people have created to maneuver power around certain people. I would really love to see in a new administration, rather than talking about securing the borders — I’d love for us to talk about it from a social justice standpoint.

Our neighbors are just trying to find safety for their families. A lot of the people who are coming here are children. It’s about to be cold in a couple of months. I’m worried about jackets and shoes for these children. I’m nervous about our future as a state.

If I could tell anything to the Harris-Walz administration — please, please, please do more.

Olinga Bolden, Chicago, 23, student and artist

We’re the only developed nation that doesn’t have some form of socialized health care on a national front. I have a lot of friends who turn 26 or 27 and are off their parents’ insurance, and they have to think about what they are going to do.

I think about issues around misdiagnosis or issues of being ignored — so, if folks go to the doctor because they are worried about different symptoms they have, especially if the doctor is not Black, those symptoms get brushed off. That’s something on a micro level to address, but on a macro level, making sure communities have access to the services they need.

I still feel like there’s progress to be made. Especially when I think about addiction counseling and people who have substance abuse issues. Seeing people struggle through that when they’re trying to get treatment, and the criminalization of drug addiction — so, it’s like the difficulty of getting treatment, but also being penalized for being that way in the first place. It’s kind of a hard thing to balance for somebody who’s already struggling.

Jalah Bates, 22, Nashville, public health graduate student and Beyond the Sheets ambassador

Photo of Jalah Bates. Courtesy of Bates.

As a young Black woman and as someone who’s rooted in public health, I can’t stress enough how crucial health care access is for HBCU students. As a brand ambassador for Beyond the Sheets — I’ve been able to push for honest conversations about sexual health and reproductive wellness, while also bridging the gaps in information that so many of us face.

I’d say my hope for the future is that we see a commitment to expanding and improving access to sexual and reproductive health care. Roe v. Wade was the floor, it’s not the ceiling. It’s more than just a desire for abortion access. We want comprehensive sexual health education that covers birth control, consent, how our bodies work, navigating relationships — it’s not enough to know basic anatomy.

With my journey in trying to go to medical school, I do have a lot of concerns about what that looks like for me. Not only being an African American individual but also being an African American woman, especially going into a field that is not as diverse.

A lot of people believe that racism does not exist within the health care field, but it’s something that’s still very prominent. I’ve seen doctors and explained how I was feeling. And it was brushed under the rug as if I’m being dramatic about my pain because of the stereotypes that persist in health care, that Black people don’t feel pain and Black women just want to be stuck on opioids.

Regardless of who’s elected, there’s still work to be done — and our education should reflect that — making sure that we have accurate information, especially in terms of social media. There are a lot of doctors and individuals who are utilizing their social media, but anybody can play a doctor on the internet.

Peter Lubembela, 25, Denver, founder of 10for10

Photo of Peter Lubembela. Courtesy of Lubembela.

I started 10for10 to get 10 Black men to feed 100 people. It’s really this idea of how we can bring Black men together to serve our community, but to have conversations about mental health, youth violence, financial literacy, and mentorship. We also have a youth focus aspect, which means, how do we give young people a social political platform.

It’s our government’s responsibility to ensure its citizens and residents have all the resources necessary to thrive. And when you look at the suicide rates and the health inequities in the Black community, it shows a lack of proper allocation and resources so that our community is healthy, successful, and thriving. I want to make sure the next administration is looking at how mental health epidemic affects our community.

I’m a refugee from Tanzania and I came to the United States at the age of 7. America’s constitution is written beautifully on paper — in reality, we see how the health care system contradicts the words that were written. As an immigrant and a Howard University graduate, I see these contradictions and I feel called to challenge them — and hold our country accountable.

In order to treat people and the community, you have to be alive. If people aren’t alive to be treated, that’s an issue — so how do we combat the suicide rates? Young people have taken a hold of the conversation. We’re having conversations about mental health. Should it be our burden to have? No. A lot of this trauma is generational, but I think the buck stops with us.

I’m excited for a Kamala Harris presidency. Frankly, when you look at the other side our community is being gaslighted at every front. I’m a really big proponent of the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz team, because they’re committed to having joyful conversations about these genuine issues in our community.

Kelsey Russell, New York City, 24, media literacy influencer and co-host of First Stop News

Photo of Kelsey Russell. Courtesy of Russell.

I would love to see a focus on mental health for youth under 18. I get concerned about the younger generation and what their discussions about mental health are. Ultimately, that falls under their parents or whoever they’re living with. So, what I want to see is more policies that center youth mental health, but under the umbrella of family mental health.

We know that generation Alpha’s social media usage has triggered concern about how their mental health is either declining or of concern because of what they’re seeing on social media. We already know that excessive social media use is linked to negative effects on your mental health, and we know social media is the main medium that younger people use to communicate.

One of my concerns is that the policies being made or talked about don’t seem to include their voices in it. I hope those policies can center them more than somebody who’s much older than them and feels so obsolete.

There’s big politics, the actual policies, and then there’s personal politics. It doesn’t seem like many people around me have been impacted by what Biden has done for mental health. When talking from a personal stance, I can’t say that I’ve seen much change around me. However, I do think proposing more funding is extremely important — but making sure the funding comes with stipulations so that it’s going to communities in the most need for mental health interventions.

Your mental health is linked to what you’re putting in your body and what you’re consuming. So, our lack of access to physical spaces, good food, green space, and the overcrowded housing that people are living in — I would hope that (Harris) will be able to look at the state of how a lot of Black Americans are living and realize it can deteriorate their mental health.

But also realize the state a lot of Black Americans are living in isn’t just siloed to us, it’s siloed to a lot of other marginalized groups in this country. I hope using a Black American lens can be an example of how other communities can be improved.

Justin Maffett, 30, formerly of New York City, lawyer and doctoral student in Paris

My mental health journey began in October 2020, around my 27th birthday, with feelings of mania. By December, I was hospitalized after being arrested on Christmas Day for evading a cab fare and keying my boss’s car. I faced about 11 charges from the Brooklyn DA’s Office.

Over a few months, I was hospitalized three times in NYC and D.C. My life was spiraling. Though the charges were eventually dropped due to mental health reasons, I could have lost my law license and ability to practice, with hundreds of thousands in student loans from Columbia.

It was a dark time, but I was fortunate to have advocates, including my family and my godfather, the CEO of the American Psychological Association. They helped me navigate a difficult system full of potholes that prevented many from seeking care.

Photo of Justin Maffett. Courtesy of Maffett.

After my discharge in February 2021, I underestimated my recovery time. My personality, confidence, and self-esteem evaporated like a planet without an atmosphere.

The challenges I faced aren’t unique. I once waited 24 hours in the ER, and financial barriers to treatment persist even with insurance. Talk therapy is often prohibitively expensive for the average American.

I hope a Harris-Walz administration will address these issues. It’s concerning that the Republican Party nominated a president whose VP choice, J.D. Vance, has made disparaging remarks about mental health, especially given his military background and the importance of veteran mental health.

My experience was traumatizing — being restrained, forcibly medicated, and using a bedpan instead of a bathroom. While I had privileges others might not, like well-connected advocates, I wonder about patients without such support.

I believe in expanding Medicaid. After leaving my job, I realized how expensive COBRA was ($900/month) and that I qualified for Medicaid, which supported my mental health journey. Those with mental illnesses are more likely to experience job loss, creating a vicious cycle between financial and mental health stability.

In the psychiatric wards, I saw many young Black people struggling to process their trauma and navigate the system. It was difficult to watch.

I think my generation, millennials, has been discouraged with the political process. But if we want a more equitable and accessible system, we must take ownership by understanding and showing interest in it.

Nayla McClure, 20, Jackson, Mississippi, student at Tougaloo College and Beyond the Sheets ambassador

I live in Mississippi where abortion is banned. HBCUs are also more likely to be in contraceptive deserts. So, when you have students who have financial barriers, it’s hard for them to really take control of their health care.

I would like to see students have more access to affordable resources. Students being able to get a doctor’s checkup for free and access STD tests, contraceptives, condoms, and more education. I just want students to have an affordable health care system and access to the resources they need.

I’m working on a maternal health research collaborative here at Tougaloo. We go to the Delta and interview African American mothers — we take that data to create policies that we can better address the health outcomes of Black mothers.

Photo of Kayla McClure. Courtesy of McClure.

I would like to see Mississippi policymakers create policies that not only mitigate health care outcomes but also address underlying issues that recognize and encompass the unique experiences of African Americans who live in this state.

Personally, my great-grandparents didn’t have the opportunity to vote, but they didn’t see that as a burden. So, I think we have to shift the narrative from thinking it’s a burden — if you want to see something change in your society, you have to be the person who goes out and does it. There are so many organizations out there with young people at the helm leading the change that we would like to see.

Beyond the Sheets is a program that not only works to educate students, but to rethink the way that we engage with sex and reproductive rights. We want to be able to not just talk about it, but to be about it. I hope to see in the next election cycle that everyone looks at our young people.

We are here. We want a voice. We want to be a part of the change. And we’re willing to be what we want to see.

Resources/ additional reading:

Here’s Where to go for Better Health Care
Therapy for Black Girls and Therapy for Black Men are two organizations that have directories of hundreds of Black and culturally competent providers in various cities and states across the country.
Find a therapist — psychologytoday.com offers a network of therapists who can help in your area.
Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress.
The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support through text messages to people in crisis when they dial 741741
Beyond the Sheets is a student-led initiative to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of students at HBCUs.
Federal Policy Action Center outlines federal policy priorities and ways for people to take action.
PowerToDecide.org is a non-partisan nonprofit whose mission is to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all.
Bedsider.org has medically-accurate, resonant information on all aspects of reproductive well-being, including sex, relationships, sexual health, and birth control.
AbortionFinder.org helps people seeking an abortion in the US find verified abortion care and support with updated state-by-state guides and vetted resources.

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