Length of Presentation
50 minutes
Start Date
15-10-2021 12:00 AM
End Date
15-10-2021 12:00 AM
Document Type
Presentation
Abstract
Disparities in healthcare are far from uncommon. Research demonstrates there are disproportionate diagnoses of psychiatric disorders and mental health disorders for those in the African Diaspora. African Americans are three to four time more likely to receive a more stigmatizing psychotic disorder diagnosis than Caucasian Americans (Schwartz & Blankenship, 2014). Presenters in this session will discuss the disparity in diagnosis for those in the African diaspora. Additionally, data associated with this research, the corresponding increased trauma associated with more stigmatizing diagnoses and the paucity in counseling research regarding these disparities will be discussed.
Description
By the completion of this session, participants will:
1. Understand evidence of disparities in mental health diagnosis for those in the African diaspora.
2. Understand the mental health treatment disparity for the African diaspora.
3. Understand the need to increase research and scholarship regarding mental health diagnosis and the treatment of those in the African diaspora.
Mental health is a fundamental aspect of life for all people. The state of mental health and the stigma of mental illness is widely discussed in current times due to an increase in political attention. Counselors must have an awareness of the disparity in diagnosis for those in the African diaspora and the disparities in treatment for this populations. Further, there is a need for counselor awareness of the lack of research regarding diagnosis disparities. Although many who identify as a person of color experience increased amounts of trauma as a result of having a mental health diagnoses, there are increased levels of trauma, rejection, lack of understanding and emotional harm for the African diaspora due to the intersections of race and mental health. Presenters in this session will discuss the lack of research for the African diaspora, disparities in mental health diagnosis for African American people, and statistics on the disparity of diagnoses for this population. Further, the need for increased research and scholarship regarding people within African diaspora will be illuminated.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Racial and Implicit Bias: Diagnosis Disparities in the African Diaspora: implications for Counseling Practice
Disparities in healthcare are far from uncommon. Research demonstrates there are disproportionate diagnoses of psychiatric disorders and mental health disorders for those in the African Diaspora. African Americans are three to four time more likely to receive a more stigmatizing psychotic disorder diagnosis than Caucasian Americans (Schwartz & Blankenship, 2014). Presenters in this session will discuss the disparity in diagnosis for those in the African diaspora. Additionally, data associated with this research, the corresponding increased trauma associated with more stigmatizing diagnoses and the paucity in counseling research regarding these disparities will be discussed.
Speaker Information
Dr. Jahaan Abdullah is an Assistant Professor, board certified and licensed counselor, social and restorative justice advocate and a morally and ethically engaged researcher. She has a BA in Psychology, MA in Community Counseling & EdD in Counselor Education and Supervision. Dr. Abdullah is an associate in private practice and she is the Chair of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship: Clinical Mental Health Council. Additionally, she is on the advisory board for the American Psychological Association (APA) Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program. In 2020, Dr. Abdullah was recognized with the Illinois Association for Multicultural Counseling Excellence in Multicultural Leadership award. Her service and scholarship focuses on social justice, restorative justice, multicultural counseling, women’s issues, advocacy, narratives and counter-narratives of silenced voices and issues impacting race, ethnic equality, gender equality and vulnerable groups. Additionally, she has an affinity for romantic relationships with particular interest given to foreplay and intimacy within relationships. Dr. Abdullah has significant mental health experience and has published and presented nationally and internationally on social justice issues, issues impacting women and marginalized groups, counseling marginalized populations and other topics relating to and impacting mental health.