Abstract
In the wake of George Floyd's killing by police in Minneapolis and the global response inspired by Black Lives Matter, it is time for the field of global mental health to reexamine how we have acknowledged and addressed racism in our institutions, our research, and our mental health services. In solidarity with street level responses, this is an important opportunity to understand and collaboratively respond to public demand for systemic change. To respond effectively, it is vital to (1) be aware of the colonial history that influences today's practices, and move forward with anti-colonial and anti-racist actions; (2) identify where and why diversity and representation are lacking in the global mental health workforce, then follow steps to combat these disparities; and (3) work with communities and institutions to end both police violence and structural violence.
Highlights
Protests inspired by the Movement for Black Lives began in Minneapolis and spread across all 50 states and in over 60 countries
The call for change has been felt in all corners of life, including homes, business, factories, government, sports, entertainment, medicine, and higher education. When it comes to thinking about the nexus of racism and violence, global mental health practitioners have not shied away from these topics, but nor has the field led the necessary efforts to catalyze change
Americans have spent decades telling other countries how to handle public health crises, yet the U.S response to the COVID-19 pandemic has disastorously fallen short, especially for Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities, and those with economic and health disparities whose infection and mortality rates are disproportionately higher than among Whites. This supports a view of global mental health which is more than a set of actions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and emphasizes improving and achieving health and mental health equity within and between all countries
Summary
Cite this article: Weine S, Kohrt BA, Collins PY, Cooper J, Lewis-Fernandez R, Okpaku S, Wainberg ML (2020). Justice for George Floyd and a reckoning for global mental health. Collins , Janice Cooper , Roberto Lewis-Fernandez, Samuel Okpaku and Milton L.
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