Deep Dive: “Let’s Talk About Black Women and Mental Health”

Drs. Catherine Squires, Rachel Hardeman, and Taiyon Coleman, with KRSM radio manager Andrea Pierre at the June 2 Changemakers Alliance forum “Let’s Talk About Black Women and Mental Health” Andrea Pierre, station manager of KRSM radio, moderated a conversation in the Changemakers Alliance series called “Let’s Talk About Black Women and Mental Health.” It featured author Dr. Taiyon Coleman, essayist Dr. Catherine Squires, and Dr. Rachel Hardeman, director of the Center for Anti-Racism Research and Health Equity at the University of Minnesota. Hardeman had recently been named to the 2024 Time list of “100 Most Influential People in the World.” These highly accomplished Black women had a commonality that brought them together in the discussion, as Pierre named in her opening question: “Being the only Black woman in your work and being highly visible but invisible. I’m wondering about the pressure in that — how isolating it is, and how painful that can be. How do you navigate this stress, stay grounded, and avoid the landmines?” Coleman recommends figuring out what makes you feel good, which might be a music playlist, perhaps going back to Queen Latifah. “Whatever it is you can to do bring joy for you, not to...