When oppression is the pathogen: the participatory development of socially just mental health practice.
Social justice perspectives have revealed the ways that racist, sexist, heterosexist and classist assumptions are embedded within conventional mental health theory and practice. Moreover, recent research has explored the pathogenic influence of structural oppression on the emotional well-being of people impacted by it. How can practitioners develop socially just interventions in keeping with these findings, especially with regard to their practice with clients from oppressed groups? In addressing this question, the authors propose the participatory development of socially just mental health practice and provide three examples of their community-based work.
Smith
Laura
L
Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. ls2396@columbia.edu
Chambers
Debbie-Ann
DA
Bratini
Lucinda
L
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011203:Poverty; D011287:Prejudice; D016730:Program Development; D012935:Social Justice