Black Mental Health Matters with Dr. Kerry-Ann

"We often think of oppression as something external – laws, institutions, violence, exclusion. But what happens when those forces settle into our thoughts, our choices, and our self-talk?" In this podcast episode, I speak with Adaiah Lassalle, LCSW, co-author of the book, "Rewriting the Script: The Power of Transforming Inner Dialogue in Oppressed Communities." This is a book about how internalized oppression can become the silent narrator of our lives and how we can defeat these inherited scripts. Adaiah is a healing-centered practitioner and an advocate for racial and social justice. Her work focuses on intergenerational healing and trauma informed care.  SWEET Institute Publishing is an initiative dedicated to making healing, mental health, and human transformation universally accessible, destigmatizing mental illness, and helping to end mental and emotional suffering. https://www.sweetinstitutepublishing.com/ Black Mental Health Matters is a podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. For more content from Dr. Kerry-Ann, check out her YouTube channel at drkerryann.

Is it possible to use empathy as an intervention in educational settings? Angel Kendall, a doctoral student at William James College, joins me on the podcast today to talk about Empathy in Educators. ----- Black Mental Health Matters is a podcast that will educate and empower you as you work towards your mental wellness goals. Find us on YouTube at drkerryann6075

WJC graduate students - Lucy Andino and Natalia Vazquez - join me in this episode to talk about youth mobile crisis services in the state of MA. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mobile-crisis-intervention They have provided the following contact numbers for Massachusetts residents: Emergency Mental Health Services An alternative to 911 for experiencing a mental health crisisWhen your child is having a mental health crisis, you may feel powerless to help. Wayside's Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention team will partner with you and honor your family's voice and preferences. We work to stabilize the situation, provide support, identify your needs and the ways to meet them.   Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention is a mobile, on-site, face-to-face therapeutic response to youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The YMCI team will identify, assess, treat, and stabilize the situation and will reduce immediate risk of danger to the youth or others. YMCI's mobile therapeutic response includes crisis intervention, stabilization, and coordination, for up to 7 days, until the youth is stable or transferred to another level of care.   Wayside provides this service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in two different regions of the state. Wayside is subcontracted by Advocates, Inc., to provide YMCI services for youth and families in the MetroWest and Waltham areas.   Contact/Referrals Framingham: (508) 872-3333 Waltham: (781) 893-2003

There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about ADHD. In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Alecia Greenlee - a psychiatrist who specializes in how to diagnose and treat ADHD in women.  Dr. Alecia Greenlee is a board-certified psychiatrist dedicated to centering the mental wellness of women through comprehensive integrative care. Dr. Greenlee specializes in reproductive and lifestyle psychiatry, with particular expertise in how hormonal fluctuations can influence ADHD symptoms in women—from premenstrual periods to perimenopause. She understands how cultural expectations, workplace dynamics, and historical medical trauma can impact both help-seeking behaviors and treatment experiences for women with ADHD. As one of only 2% of psychiatrists in the U.S. who are Black, Dr. Greenlee brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to understanding the unique challenges women face with ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Her work addresses the intersection of ADHD with perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, and the sociocultural pressures that many high-achieving women navigate daily. Go to her website: https://www.bloomandbuild.com/ Black Mental Health Matters is a podcast that will educate and empower you as you work towards your mental wellness goals. Find us on YouTube at drkerryann6075

What happens when the rise of psychiatry occurs at the same time as the height of slavery? In her new book - From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter: Tracing the Impacts of Racial Trauma in Black communities from the Colonial Era to the Present – Dr. Ingrid Waldron presents one of the best, research-backed, summaries that I have ever read on the history of racial trauma, psychiatry, and the current state of  Black mental health. Dr. Waldron is a professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice program at McMaster University in Toronto, Canada. She is the founder and director of the Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities, and Community Health Project (ENRICH project) and author of the book, "There's Something in the Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous and Black Communities", which was turned into a Netflix documentary in 2020. Dr. Waldron joined me for the podcast today, to talk about how race has historically influenced the psychiatric assessment, the need to look at structural competency, and next steps for how we can all make a difference. Purchase her book here: https://a.co/d/8FYmUXP Learn more about Dr. Waldron: https://experts.mcmaster.ca/people/waldroni https://www.enrichproject.org/   Black Mental Health Matters is a podcast that will educate and empower you as you work towards your mental wellness goals. Find us on YouTube @drkerryann6075

In this vintage episode, I talk about five supplemental interventions to boost your wellness routine. Enjoy!

Untether dysphoria and self-doubt with mindset coach, Hailima Yates, as she joins us for this episode to talk about her book, "Dissolving the Anchor." Black Mental Health Matters is a podcast that will educate and empower you as you work towards your mental wellness goals. Find us on YouTube @drkerryann6075

Are you looking for resources for your teen post-COVID? In this episode, I'm joined by graduate students at William James College - Dasia Miles-Langaigne and Angela Walukevich, as they talk about the ins and outs of finding resources for teens in the community. See below a list of resources in Massachusetts compiled by today's guests: Resource List  Resource: (Targeted to knowledge/information gathering - can be used both for the organization level and also family level)  Afterschool Programs | Youth.gov Afterschool 101 — Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership   Can apply for vouchers for childcare and transportation reimbursement: Child care voucher 13y/o and younger  Get Child Care and Transportation Help | Mass.gov   Apply for funds for child care and/or after school programs:  Child Care Financial Assistance | Mass.gov   Applying for Childcare assistance: Mass211's Child Care Services & Financial Payment Assistance | Mass 211   Partial reimbursement transportation that is work and child-care related activities:  Get Child Care and Transportation Help | Mass.gov   Apply for Grant(s) for youth sports: Youth Sports Grants - All Kids Play Every Kid Sports – We pay. Kids play.   For younger/small children, but still seems like great resource: (play groups, activities, vouchers)  Child Care Works – PACE   EBT Card for Culture (lower/free access for humanities, arts, sciences):  EBT Card to Culture - MA SNAP-ED EBT Card to Culture Organizations | Mass.gov   Additional Places:  Brookline Teen Center: (middle and high school; teen jobs) - Mix of gaming, music/art, cooking, sports   Brookline Teen Center – A safe space for discovery, creative expression, and social change.   Children's Services of Roxbury: (music group, peer leadership/advocacy program, & drop in center - access food, housing, jobs, resources)  Youth Resiliency & Development | Children's Services of Roxbury   Zumix: (Music based: teens, but also ages 7-13, filmmaking, music production, and even podcasting)  Who We Are – ZUMIX   Younger Kids/to Grade 5: Arlington Child Center: (toddler, preschool, kindergarten, but also after school and summer programs for 6-11y/o/just completed 5th grade)  Programs for Arlington Children's Center, Arlington Ma   Think Together: (K-12 - academic focused, dynamic learning, enrichment) + college and career readiness Afterschool Expanded Learning - Think Together | Nonprofit   The Black Man Can (mentoring, focused around boys/young men)  The Black Man Can Foundation   Follow Suit Mentoring (mentoring, workshops, focused around boys/young men)  Follow Suit Mentoring   Boston Project Ministries (multiple programs, mentoring, art, community)  The Boston Project Ministries   Girls on the Run (Physical activity for girls)  Girl Empowerment Programs | Girls on the Run   Swaby Tae Kwon Do (Tae Kwon Do)  ww1.swabystaekwondoboston.com/lander   YMCA Before and After School: (Greater Boston - local)  Before / After School - YMCA of Greater Boston Additional local/community locations to consider:  ·       Parks ·       Library  ·       Boys and Girls Club    Might be helpful for the organization: – "Youth Voice" - youth having voice in society. Ways to have culturally competency in the programs  Youth Voice — Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership (STEM)    Boston After School and Beyond: Hub to look for activities/programs (funding on organizational level), can search by neighborhood, age, topics  Boston After School & Beyond | Youth Educational Programs  

What are neuropsychological assessments? Are you trying to find one in the Boston area? In this episode, two graduate students from William James College - Ellie Deveaux and Sonia Cordero - talk about cultural disparities in neuropsychological assessments and provide resources for accessing these assessments in the Boston area. Here are some resources provided by today's guests, including two Spanish-speaking psychologists:  #1 Boston Children's Hospital-Department of Psychiatry #2 The Massachusetts General Hospital-Pediatric Neuropsychology #3 The learning and emotional assessment program (LEAP)-Boston College. #4 Butler Hospital #5 Dr. Juan E. Rosario Jr. Psy.D. #6 Dr. Frank Hernandez   Black Mental Health Matters with Dr. Kerry-Ann is a podcast covering mental health topics relevant in the Black community and beyond. Listen to more episodes by following this podcast on any major podcasting platform or by subscribing to the drkerryann channel on YouTube, where you can find the video version of this episode.    

Liberate your narrative. Boast in your weaknesses. In this episode, Mr. Hassan Daniel uses biblical principles to help men heal from childhood sexual abuse. Hassan is the founder and CEO of the Father Factory Inc (https://thefatherfactory.com/), a fatherhood program focusing on parenting, biblical literacy and counseling for fathers who have experienced childhood trauma. Hassan has written a book called, "Where is the Man of the House?" and he is about to release a book called, "Not Another Child." Check him out on TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFwGM3Dy/ You can reach out to Hassan directly at: [email protected] Other helpful resources: 1in6: https://1in6.org/about-1in6/ RAINN: https://rainn.org/resources Male Survivor: https://malesurvivor.org/ Black Mental Health Matters with Dr. Kerry-Ann is a podcast covering mental health topics relevant in the Black community and beyond. Listen to more episodes by following this podcast on any major podcasting platform or subscribe to the YouTube channel (@drkerryann6075).

How many hours a day are your children using screens? How much of that time is spent passively watching videos or scrolling through social media? Why do studies find more screen time in Black children? Check out this episode of the podcast to hear more about how screen time affects your child's mental health and development. Here are some helpful references and resources for this episode: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2020-0-8-census-fact-sheet-black-children-final2.pdf https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/5cs-of-media-use/ https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-Watching-TV-054.aspx Nagata JM, Ganson KT, Iyer P, Chu J, Baker FC, Pettee Gabriel K, Garber AK, Murray SB, Bibbins-Domingo K. Sociodemographic Correlates of Contemporary Screen Time Use among 9- and 10-Year-Old Children. J Pediatr. 2022 Jan;240:213-220.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.08.077. Epub 2021 Sep 2. PMID: 34481807; PMCID: PMC9107378. Muppalla SK, Vuppalapati S, Reddy Pulliahgaru A, Sreenivasulu H. Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management. Cureus. 2023 Jun 18;15(6):e40608. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40608. PMID: 37476119; PMCID: PMC10353947.  

Depression can show up in families in subtle ways, sometimes with small changes in behavior that slowly start to create concerns. One of the most common questions that I get is, "how can I get a loved one to see a doctor/therapist?" In the most recent episode of the pod, I speak with Dr. Valerie Cordero, Co-Executive Director at Families for Depression Awareness and a prominent voice for suicide prevention, mental health parity, and health equity. We discuss the issue of mental health concerns within families. Check out Families for Depression Awareness at https://www.familyaware.org/ for online resources for how to help your family members.   If you or someone that you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 911 or 988 for help in the US or activate the emergency services in your area.

Go beyond the surface and challenge your assumptions in this episode of the podcast. Deborah Jackson is the Associate Director of Training and Consultation at Justice Resource Institute. She provides trainings regionally and nationally on cultural responsiveness and recently developed a training on implicit bias and microaggressions. In this episode, she shares her top gems from this training. You can find her at jacksoncounselingri.com.  For more information on Black Mental Health Matters with Dr. Kerry-Ann, check out drkerryann.net. 

Join me in this thought-provoking episode where I'll guide you though a reflective journey and offer practical strategies to empower you in your daily life. Listen in to experience a psychiatrist's insights on managing your thoughts, staying positive, and keeping it real with your daily routine. It's time to prioritize thriving in your life! Check out the podcast website at drkerryann.net.

In Today's Ten-Minute Tuesday, I cover some key features of healthy psychological development. 

Part II of the Ten-Minute Tuesday series on reasons that I have heard for why folks prefer not to take psychiatric medications. 

Part I of the most common reasons I hear for why folks say they prefer not to take psychiatric medications. 

In this episode, Dr. Karla Hylton, Jamaican media personality, shares highlights of her life story - rising up from a tumultuous childhood to a place of healing and personal growth. Check out her book - The Unvarnished Truth: Purpose in the Pain - now available on Amazon. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oHFpZJt9TOI

In this mini-episode, you will learn how to recognize signs of psychological trauma. If you find this episode helpful, please share it!

Ten-Minute Tuesdays are mini-episodes that you can listen to on the go. In this episode, I talk about how to think about your anxiety,  If you find this episode informative, share it with someone that you know!  

Welcome to Ten-Minute Tuesdays! In these mini-episodes, I will provide bite-sized bits of information that you can take with you on the go. In this week's episode, I cover how to recognize some sneaky signs of depression. Share this episode with someone you know who needs to hear this valuable info :) *If you are experiencing any thoughts of hurting yourself, call 911 or 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. This podcast does not provide emergency services. 

In this episode, you will meet Dr. Tiffany Smith, DNP, who practices functional medicine and nutrition. At Aroma Functional Nutrition, Dr. Smith helps patients identify the root causes of their conditions and creates customized treatment plans that include, but go beyond medication treatment. Text selflove to 7029194249 for encouraging self-care tips.

Join me for this podcast episode as Shalita Grant, known for her role as NCIS Special Agent Sonja Percy on NCIS New Orleans, speaks about her experiences with hair discrimination in Hollywood and how she turned the experience into an opportunity to help others. Check out her website at FourNaturalsHair.com. 

Multidisciplinary artist and cultural activist, Daniel Callahan, joins me on the podcast to share how he creates immersive experiences incorporating story, ritual, and the human form to explore aspects of resilience, reconciliation, and mysticism. Learn more about Daniel and the art technique of MassQing at danielcallahan.com 

Dr. Quenette Walton from the University of Houston joins me for this episode and shares her surprising and noteworthy findings regarding her qualitative research study on depression in professional Black women. 

In this podcast episode, I interview Drexwell Seymour, author of "Rise Up and Take Your Position", about overcoming limiting mindsets and finding your purpose. Check out his website at drexwellseymour.com.

In today's episode, I talk about how to maintain your wellness goals during times of change. What would you add?

In today's episode, I speak with James Nicholas Kinney. James is a global executive, DEI innovator, motivational speaker, certified yoga and meditation instructor, musician, author, and survivor of devastating anxiety and depression. Check out his website at jamesnicholaskinney.com. 

In today's episode, I go over six top reasons why people don't go to therapy. What other reasons have you had or heard?

In today's episode, I speak about Multiple Personality Disorder, now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Listen to the end to hear why dissociation as a concept is relevant in the Black community.

In today's episode, you'll meet Dr. Nicole Cammack, President and CEO of Black Mental Wellness and learn about a wealth of mental health resources for the Black community.

Time for a mental health tune-up! What do you value and what are you prioritizing? In today's mini-episode, I'm giving you ten steps to prioritize your mental health. Enjoy!

Recently, Bruce Willis was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia. Previously, he had been diagnosed with aphasia. What is aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and why do we in the Black community need to pay attention to dementia? Check out today's mini-episode to learn more!

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Brandi Derr, Director for the Leadership PsyD program at William James College. She explains what leadership and organizational psychology is and how it intersects with Black leadership. 

In this podcast episode, I share my thoughts on the concepts of empathy and vicarious trauma in the case of Tyre Nichols. 

In today's podcast episode, in reference to a news story, I guide you through a discussion on some psychological considerations for a six-year who shot an adult. 

Author Zee Clarke joins me for the first episode of the season to talk about the role of breathwork in the Black community. You can purchase her book - Black People Breathe - at your favorite book retailer and check out her YouTube channel for demonstrations of her techniques.

Today's bonus replay episode is the second of a two-part series on Music Therapy. I speak with Morgan Beckford, Chief Programming Officer at Community Music Center of Boston (cmcb.org) about the music programs available locally in Boston. 

In today's bonus replay episode, I share my interview with Dr. Adenicke Webb and Dr. Natasha Thomas, board-certified music therapists. 

If you are new to the podcast, this review of Season 3 is a great episode to start with! Listen in to this final episode of the season and then click on the podcast episode that you want to hear more from. 

What's the link between food insecurity and mental health? Listen in to today's podcast discussion with graduate students from William James College - Ajaycia Jackson, Alyssa Cetoute, Ashley Halloway, and Olivia Fenty.

Three graduate students from William James College join me today to discuss mental health services in immigrant populations - Jodyann Hanson, Xinru (Tina) Wang, and Jacqueline (Jackie) Pack. 

As we go along in life, we evolve. What are some things that you no longer do for your mental health? In this episode, I cover some of things I have had to change over time.

In today's episode, I review the book, "Sacred Rest" by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, where she talks about seven types of rest. (Hint: it's not sleep or vacation time)

Today's episode is a mini-episode about the concept of resilience in BIPOC communities. We tend to think of resilience as positive, and it is, but it has hidden costs. 

How have you been? What issues to do you wish you could talk to a psychiatrist about? What do you have the power to change right now to shift your life out of neutral and into positive and vibrant? Don't let "learned helplessness" tell you that you have no power! 

How do you prepare mentally for the Fall and Winter seasons? In today's episode, I provide four prompts for you to think about as you make your plan. 

Wondering what it's like to see a psychiatrist? In this episode, I cover the basics of what to expect when you see a psychiatrist.

There's a new draft recommendation for all adults 18-64 to be screened for anxiety. In today's episode, I talk about what to expect for an anxiety screening and how psychiatrists take it a step further from screening to full assessment and treatment. 

In today's episode, I guide you through eight stages of psychological development that might help explain some of your current psychological challenges.