A new article, published in Lancet Psychiatry, calls for an anti-racist approach to mental health care and outlines how to practice as an anti-racist clinician. The author points to the need for increased awareness, culturally appropriate assessments, humanistic approaches to medication, and treatment approaches that directly address racism.
The author, Jude Mary Cénat, an assistant professor in the Clinical Psychology Program of the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, writes:
“The reality is that racial discrimination, racial profiling, microaggressions, and racism exist within physical and mental health-care institutions and services in western countries. These widespread and chronic factors are associated with a lack of mental health professionals’ training on racial issues and disparities.”