Jonathan Metzl

Jonathan Metzl, a psychiatrist and cultural critic, discusses the troubling intersection of race and mental health in his work. He reveals how the diagnosis of schizophrenia became racially charged during the Civil Rights movement, linking the perception of the illness with African American men. Metzl explores cultural influences, racial biases in psychiatric diagnoses, and the criminal justice system's treatment of those labeled with schizophrenia. His insights urge a critical re-evaluation of mental health care and highlight the need for systemic change to combat these disparities.