Hyper(in)visibility of Blackness in spaces of whiteness: representations of race, gender and mental distress in the imageries of youth mental health services

This article examines race, gender and mental health representations in the visual materials of youth mental health services. Through a dataset comprising 354 images from the websites of 30 services supporting youth mental health, we explore the complex interplay of visibility and invisibility in these depictions. The analysis reveals that despite formal commitments to equality, non-discrimination, and even anti-racism, there is a marked underrepresentation of racial diversity in the imageries of youth mental health services. White young people, particularly white girls, dominate the visual narratives, while young people of colour, especially Black boys, remain conspicuously hyper(in)visible. The article argues that this constrained representation of race and gender, defined by a lack of racial diversity and the dominance of whiteness, may prevent young people of colour from seeing themselves as potential clients of these services. The findings suggest that embracing greater diversity both in visual materials and service staff could foster greater health equity within youth mental health services.