Title: Addressing Racism to Reduce Mental Health Inequities
Recorded on October 22, 2020
Featuring: Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD

Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences at Emory University and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in traumatic stress and culturally responsive interventions.  She received her PhD and MS in clinical child psychology from the University of Washington. Dr. Woods-Jaeger completed her clinical psychology internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago and then went on to complete a fellowship in public health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Woods-Jaeger's research examines social and structural processes that link the experience of child trauma and adversity to mental and physical health disparities. Her work focuses on partnering with communities to identify ways to prevent adverse childhood experiences and support different systems such as education, juvenile justice, and health care in responding to the needs of trauma-exposed youth. She is currently a Principal Investigator on research projects supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused on primary and secondary violence prevention and promoting resilience after experiencing trauma and adversity.

Webinar Description

Trauma exposure is a serious public health problem that disproportionately affects Black communities.  Structural racism, defined as institutional policies and practices that codify unequal distribution of goods, services, and opportunities, as well as reinforce discriminatory beliefs and values (Bailey et al., 2017), creates social conditions that result in a disproportionate burden of trauma exposure, as well as differences in systems response and services provided. The effects of structural racism on Black youth mental health persist. A new approach is needed to address these mental health inequities that emphasizes mental health professionals addressing how power, privilege, and oppression relate to trauma-related mental health.  This webinar focuses on how mental health professionals can reduce trauma-related mental health inequities among Black youth.  Specifically, evidence documenting social determinants of trauma exposure and response will be reviewed and cultural humility will be presented as a framework that can facilitate mental health professionals’ active involvement in addressing racism to reduce mental health inequities.  An overview of principles of cultural humility were provided. Applied strategies and examples were shared including specific tools and resources.  

Learning Objectives:

1) Identify how structural racism impacts trauma exposure and response among Black communities

2) Define core principles of cultural humility that can address mental health inequities

3) Describe applications of cultural humility to address racism and mental health inequities