Like many medical specialties, the field of psychiatry was built on racist ideas of difference in black and white mental fitness and mental capacity. This historical backdrop of medical and scientific racism paved the way for contemporary inequities in care and the systematic underinvestments in Black mental health. The drivers of long-term Black mental health vulnerabilities are the cumulative and lingering adversities of race-based exclusions from health, educational, social, and economic resources. Black mental health practitioners have made urgent calls to improve mental health care in Black communities by improving access to care and the quality of care, as well as diversifying the mental health force and requiring culturally resonant training for providers in order to provide effective care.

Dr. Jessica Isom joins the Health EquiTEA Podcast to discuss racism and anti-racism in psychiatry, particularly in Black communities. Dr. Isom emphasizes the need for a developmental understanding of the field and the importance of incorporating equity and anti-oppression practices. She shares her personal journey in the field and the challenges she has faced as a Black psychiatrist. Dr. Isom also discusses the significance of culturally relevant care and the need for representation of Black mental health practitioners. She explores the intersectionality of race and mental health and the role of advocacy and activism in transforming the psychiatric profession.

Key Takeaways:

1. Psychiatry needs a developmental understanding of itself to address racism and improve mental health care in Black communities.
2. Culturally relevant care involves creating a collaborative and empowering therapeutic relationship with patients.
3. Black immigrant communities may have unique considerations and hesitancies when seeking mental health care.
4. Advocacy and activism efforts are essential in reducing resistance to equity-focused interventions in psychiatry.
5. Research and implementation science are crucial for developing effective strategies for workforce development and improving mental health care outcomes.

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