About this course

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the historical and cultural factors contributing to the stigma surrounding mental health treatment in the African American community and how these factors impact individuals’ willingness to seek care.
• Explore the relationship between mental health assessments, diagnostic labels, and their implications for treatment within the Black community, while addressing the role of culturally competent care.
• Analyze suicide rates and statistics within the African American community, and provide actionable resources and prevention strategies to reduce these rates and promote mental wellness.

Learning Levels

• Beginner

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Keyunda Washington, LMHC-QS

  Keyunda Washington, LMHC, QS is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over a decade of post-master’s experience supporting youth, families, and adults across school-based, community, and psychiatric settings. Her clinical expertise includes treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD, with a focus on culturally responsive care for BIPOC clients. Keyunda draws from cognitive-behavioral, holistic, and integrative treatment models in her work. She has provided services in both private practice and through contracts with EAPs and group health insurers. In addition to her clinical work, she has contributed to crisis intervention programs, school-based therapy, and vocational services. Known for her strong leadership, training, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills, she is passionate about empowering clients and enhancing access to quality mental health care.

References

• Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 8;30(11):1234–1251. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2022.07.001
• Healing Interpersonal and Racial Trauma: Integrating Racial Socialization Into Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for African American Youth. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559520921457
• J Child Fam Stud. 2015 Dec 30;25(6):1926–1940. doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0351-z
• Mental and Behavioral Health – Black/African Americans.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americans
• McClean Hospital (2024).Racism, Trauma, and Mental Health. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/black-mental-health
• NAMI. Black/African American. https://www.nami.org/your-journey/identity-and-cultural-dimensions/black-african-america n/
• Spencer-Thomas, S. (2017, September 11). Suicide Prevention as a Social Justice Issue. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/advocate/suicide-prevention-as-a-social-justice-issue/
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center. https://sprc.org/about-suicide/scope-of-the-problem/racial-and-ethnic-disparities/black-pop ulations/