How Racism Becomes a Mental Health Crisis

Racial trauma. Misdiagnosis. Medical gaslighting.

This episode explores how racism becomes a public health crisis—especially when it comes to the mental health of Black communities.

I’m joined by Dr. Ingrid Waldron—professor, researcher, and author of From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter—for a powerful and unfiltered conversation about the systemic forces that shape how mental illness is diagnosed, treated, and too often ignored in Black bodies.

Originally recorded for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this conversation is more timely than ever.

We discuss:

• Why schizophrenia is disproportionately diagnosed in Black men
• How the “strong Black woman” trope blocks empathy and access to care
• What medical gaslighting actually looks like in clinical settings
• The physical toll of racial stress and internalized trauma

Resources Mentioned:

📘 From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter (click link to purchase)

📗 The Protest Psychosis – Dr. Jonathan Metzl (click link to purchase on our Bookshop.org shelf)

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Be Well, Sis is hosted by Dr Cassandre Dunbar. The show is edited, mixed and produced by Megan Hayward. Our Production Manager is Kathleen Speckert.

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