Savannah, GA (WTOC) – Video footage of Tire Nichols being beaten by Memphis police can cause racial trauma, according to mental health experts in Georgia.
“We’re looking at it again, how we interpret those who are tasked with protecting us, and that’s also what’s affecting our mental health outcomes. “
Tyre Nichols was a black father who was unable to return home after being beaten by Memphis police on January 7.
After the footage was released, it caused civil unrest across the country, but Clayton Andrews, a licensed professional counselor, says it creates racial trauma for blacks to watch the video.
“And that trauma doesn’t resemble typical post-traumatic stress. This is ongoing trauma. These are historical intergenerational traumas.”
Being black himself, he says it’s easy for black people to watch the video and put themselves in Nichols’ shoes. She says she came to him with her concerns after seeing the incident.
“There were conversations about the numbness one might feel, the ropes of going again, the anger, the depression, the hopelessness. Andrews said.
When experiencing this type of trauma, mental health professionals recommend talking to someone you can empathize with or seeking professional help.
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