A Series of Three Parts

I teamed up with a colleague and friend of mine, Laura Lu, to create a three-part series titled Racial Disparities and Discrimination in Mental Health Diagnosis & the DSM.  This series begins to unpack the presence of racism in the history of mental health diagnosis, current racial biases in diagnosis and mental health treatment, and factors that perpetuate racial disparities and discrimination in the field of mental health.

Part I: The DSM & Racism in the History of Mental Health Treatment

Part I of this series introduces the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and two racially discriminatory & oppressive diagnoses coined prior to the development of the DSM.  

Part II highlights patterns of mental health diagnosis and misdiagnosis in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in comparison with White individuals.  Finally, Part III concludes the series by exploring various ways that racial bias and cultural factors contribute to the misdiagnosis & expression of mental health issues in BIPOC communities.

Want to Learn More?

This series is grounded in research. If you’re interested in learning more on these topics, a great place to start is with the research articles that are referenced in Part I as well as Part II and Part III. For more information on the intersection of mental health and social justice, read about racism, stress, and chronic illness and tune into a conversation on the essential role of social justice in mental health and wellness. Additionally, check out my guide on self-care as political resistance for BIPOC.

Racial Bias & Diagnostic Patterns in BIPOC

Part of dismantling racism in the field of mental health entails looking closely at how the mental health institution has failed, and continues to fail, BIPOC. You are now ready for Part II, an overview of patterns in mental health diagnosis and misdiagnosis in BIPOC in comparison with White individuals.