Dr. Mandisa Peterson, C.Psych & Dr. Jude Mary Cénat, C.Psych: Acknowledging & Addressing Structural Racism in Mental Health

Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

There has recently been a tremendous increase in awareness and acknowledgment of the systemic oppression and challenges faced by racialized populations not only generally, but in the context of mental health. Clinical psychologists Drs. Mandisa Peterson & Jude Mary Cénat join host Dr. Pete Kelly for a very important discussion around:

• the prevalence and nature of mental health challenges among racialized populations
• the important contribution of chronic stress stemming from racism & intergenerational trauma on mental health in racialized populations
• caveats, conundrums & guidance with respect to employing current diagnostic frameworks with racialized or diverse populations
• examples of the everyday challenges that are faced by racialized populations from the lens of racism and discrimination
• Drs. Peterson & Cénat’s experiences of racism, both personally & professionally
• barriers to accessing mental health services among racialized populations
• themes to be aware of around cultural differences that can exist with respect to symptoms, help-seeking etc.
• promoting greater access to diversity in training experiences
• structural racism within mental health settings
• resources that are available to help promote better insight and awareness among clinicians as well as reflections on having difficult conversations

https://mentalhealthforeveryone.ca
https://www.changingmindscanada.org
For a full list of resources related to racism and mental health click here. Sample resources:

• Racism in Psychiatry by Morgan Medlock
• Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting by Terrie Williams
• How to Provide Antiracist Mental Health Care Free Training Modules
• Manual for CBT for English-Speaking People of Caribbean Origin

Dr. Peterson is the co-founder and director of Changing Minds, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing barriers to accessing evidence-based mental health care in the Ottawa area (changingmindscanada.org). She provides psychodiagnostic assessments as well as individual and group therapy treatment for diverse adult populations. Her primary approach to therapy is cognitive behavioural and she has experience and training in a number of evidence-based approaches, including dialectical behaviour therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Dr. Peterson has a particular interest and experience working with posttraumatic stress and forensic issues. She is involved in the supervision of doctoral students in clinical psychology. She is also committed to continuing program development and evaluation in the community in an effort to develop more effective and accessible mental healthcare programs.
Dr. Jude Mary Cénat is an Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology and the Director of the Vulnerability, Trauma, Resilience & Culture (V-TRaC) Research Laboratory at the University of Ottawa. His research program explores factors associated with vulnerability, trauma, and resilience, with a particular interest in the role of cultural factors. Dr. Cénat conducts research on racial disparities in mental health and social services, the impact of natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks on mental health, interpersonal and non-interpersonal trauma, and overall mental health. He conducts research in North America, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.