19.1 “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?” EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF RACE, TRAUMA, AND ORIENTATION IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD: NARRATIVES FROM TODAY’S GENERATION

Abstract

Patient narratives provide an intimate journey through the eyes of today’s young survivors. Attendees will appreciate the resilience of Black LGBTQ youth who persevere and overcome hurdles sustained by complex trauma. By reflecting on youths’ firsthand trauma narratives, attendees will deconstruct biases and learn to foster change in their own practices and views. Attendees will explore patient narratives to gain a greater appreciation of complex trauma and identity-related prejudice. Youth participants articulate their life experiences to further clinicians’ understanding and to foster conversation among clinicians. The presenter will also share her exploration as a provider within a metropolitan inpatient setting, where conversation meets collaboration. Firsthand patient stories encourage practitioners to reevaluate and conceptualize what it means to experience adversity tied to various identities. Attendees will understand how traumatic life experiences challenge one’s core identities and identify points of impact for child and adolescent mental health practitioners. Attendees will also learn to create conversation among community initiatives and health systems in order to develop culturally competent inclusive practice parameters within systems of care. Practitioners will experience a deeper connection to youth served by discussing their narratives and reflecting on the impact of race, gender, and sexuality for LGBTQ youth of color.