Black Mental Health: Patients, Providers, and Systems – A Comprehensive Guide

Authored by renowned expert Ezra E. H. Griffith, this groundbreaking book is a pioneering work that delves into the complex and multifaceted realm of African American mental health care within the American psychiatric system.

A Unique Perspective on Black Mental Health Care

This seminal work examines the experiences of both black patients and black mental health professionals, set against the backdrop of cultural, societal, and professional forces that have shaped their place in this specialized health care arena.

First-Person Accounts of Black Psychiatrists

The book opens with powerful, first-person accounts of five senior black psychiatrists, including Dr. Altha J. Stewart, President of the American Psychiatric Association, who share their individual journeys to the top of their field, unflinchingly discussing the racism and discrimination that have challenged their paths to leadership.

Delivering Mental Health Care to African Americans

The book’s second part explores the complexities and opportunities for delivering mental health care to various subsets of the African American population, including children, women, elderly patients, and LGBTQ individuals. Innovative approaches, such as system design strategies, biological therapies, and church-based mental health promotion initiatives, are considered as methods for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in access to effective treatment.

Training Black Mental Health Professionals

Part III of the book examines the training of black mental health professionals and their representation in psychiatry, particularly in the face of discrimination and implicit bias. A chapter on historically black colleges and universities highlights the crucial role they play in the delivery of psychiatric services and research development for African Americans.

Research and Care for the Black Population

The fourth part of the book addresses research that is relevant to the care of the black population, providing valuable insights for mental health care providers and policymakers alike.

A Holistic View of Black Mental Health Care

A concluding chapter distills the key themes that emerged from each of the previous four parts, providing a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the place of black patients and providers in American psychiatry.

With its rich blend of scholarship, clinical insight, and training analysis, Black Mental Health: Patients, Providers, and Systems is an indispensable resource for trainees, practicing clinicians, policymakers, educators, and historians seeking to understand the challenges and necessity of developing integrated approaches to the care of nondominant groups.

Published by the American Psychiatric Association Publishing on September 24, 2018, this book is a must-read for anyone invested in improving mental health care outcomes for African Americans.

ISBN: 9781615372065, 9781615372102