Recent events surrounding the killing of unarmed Black people by police has brought into stark relief the ongoing harmful effects of racism in the United States. Extensive research demonstrates that experiences of racism (e.g., discrimination, microaggressions, exposure to race-based violence) have deleterious impacts on the mental health and well-being of Black, Indigenous and people of Color (BIPOC), including increasing risk and severity of PTSD. Inadequate attention to the unique cultural experiences of BIPOC, as well as a history of maltreatment, abuse, and medical experimentation has contributed to mistrust, wariness, and avoidance of mental health care among these marginalized populations. Addressing this crisis requires continued attention, clinician education, and the development, dissemination and implementation of novel, culturally-responsive assessment and intervention strategies. This lecture addresses these gaps by describing: (1) the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of racism-related stress and trauma (RST), including similarities and differences between racial trauma and PTSD; (2) possible clinical presentations of RST; and (3) clinical practice considerations and evidence-based intervention approaches that may mitigate the impact of RST on mental health.
JULIETTE MCCLENDON, PhD is a clinical psychologist in the Women’s Health Sciences Division of the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. McClendon studies the role of racism and discrimination in shaping racial/ethnic mental health disparities and the identification of intervention approaches that can mitigate the impact of racism-related stress and trauma on health. She is currently funded by a VISN 1 Career Development Award to evaluate the Minority Stress and Empowerment Group, an intervention that addresses racism-related stress and trauma among Veterans of Color, and to examine barriers and facilitators to its implementation. Dr. McClendon is also a clinician and supervisor in the Women’s Trauma Recovery Team and the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Psychology Service at VA Boston.
(Open to those who work outside VA)
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