Will There Finally Be More Black Psychiatrists?

By Anissa Durham | Word In Black (WIB) – We’ve come a long way from the bondage of slavery. But has our mental health gone far enough? Currently, only 2% of psychiatrists and 4% of psychologists are Black. Of the thousands of providers across the country, the chances you can access a Black mental health provider with either medical degree is unlikely.  Black youth& suicide death rates& continue to rise faster than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. In a 10-year national survey conducted by the& Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors increased. In 2021, Black students were more likely than Asian, Hispanic, and white students to attempt suicide.& The looming life-and-death consequences of not having enough culturally competent providers continue to show. This is just one factor in the mental health crisis. Social determinants of mental health, like adverse childhood experiences, poverty, food insecurity, and racism, all add to the toll so many Black folks are forced to navigate.& But it doesn’t have to be that way.  While many point to access, policy change, and investment, one Indianapolis triple-board psychiatrist in training is leading a thoughtful and intentional...