Addressing racism: the role of mental health professionals

Abstract

Racial discrimination and racism are ubiquitous. These feelings and resulting acts of discrimination contribute to the mental illnesses among those who experience it and face it regularly. Although efforts have been made at international level to develop correct definitions and actions to mitigate and eliminate these acts in policies, reality remains very different. Racism is pervasive and can manifest in several, often-overlapping forms as it may be personal, internalised or institutional. The concept of personally mediated racism refers to deliberate social attitudes and behaviours, to racially prejudiced actions, to discrimination towards others according to their race, or devaluation, or stereotyping for the same reasons. Research has shown that discrimination and perceived discrimination contribute to mental ill health as well as poor physical health and poor wellbeing. Managing issues related to racism requires interventions at multiple levels from individual education and training, institutional responses and policy measures. All of these require appropriate funding.