<p>Mental health disparities faced by racially and ethnically minoritized populations in the USA are persistent and widespread. This analysis presents a conceptual model and scoping review of an overlooked pathway to racial/ethnic mental health disparities: racism-related developmental origins of mental health. The model links historical and structural racism to an increased likelihood of exposure to disproportionate and unique stressors among racially and ethnically minoritized populations, which in turn confers heightened vulnerability to mental health disorders in the next generation. Here, through a scoping review, we describe the state of the evidence supporting this model. Our results show how preconception, prenatal and early-life experiences—including exposure to trauma and stressful life events, socioeconomic disadvantage, environmental toxins, sociocultural factors (such as discrimination and acculturative stress), and aspects of maternal mental, behavioral and physical health—are linked to an increased risk of poor mental health. Areas where more research is needed are discussed, including further investigation of sociocultural stressors and potential protective factors.</p>