In 2011, Mental Health News (now Behavioral Health News) published a special issue focused on the impact of race and racism on mental health clients, practitioners, organizations, and delivery systems. In our article, “Assessing Racial Equity Impact in Mental Health Policymaking: Reflections and Recommendations,” we wrote: “We believe that to change policies and practices that have contributed to disparities in mental health outcomes for people of color will require a meaningful commitment to anti-racist work. This in turn will require an appraisal of how racism is ingrained in all societal institutions including the mental health system. In the words of The People’s Institute, “racism destroys humanity and undoing racism brings humanity back.” We should settle for nothing less. Our collective mental health depends upon it.”
Coauthors: Mimi Abramovitz is Chair of Social Welfare Policy at Hunter College, School of Social Work. Sandra Bernabei, LCSW, is a Founding Member, Anti-Racist Alliance, is a community organizer, and is a private practitioner. Carmen Collado is Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, Director Immigrant and Latino Services, JBFCS; and President, Hispanic Mental Health Professionals. Robert Hawkins is McSilver Assistant Professor in Poverty Studies at the McSilver Institute on Poverty Policy and Research, of the NYU Silver School of Social Work. Wayne Ho, MPP, is Executive Director, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. Eri J. Kim is Director of the Safe Horizon Manhattan Community Program. Larry Mandell is Former President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of New York City. Jonathan Morgenstern is Director of Preventive Services at the NYC Mission Society. Gabriel Sayegh is State Director of the New York Drug Policy Alliance. Michael Stoller is Executive Director of the Human Services Council of NYC.
The article can be downloaded below, or found online here.
