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Published on: February 16, 2011
When oppression is the pathogen: the participatory development of socially just mental health practice
Laura Smith1, Debbie-Ann Chambers, Lucinda Bratini
1Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. ls2396@columbia.edu
Abstract:
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.
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