Why use BIPOC? Because language matters. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) is a term that dates back to 2013 (Garcia, 2017). BIPOC is person-first and is generally preferred over outdated terminology, such as "marginalized" or "minority," as these are not person-first and are all-encompassing. They also imply a sense of inferiority.
Understanding the impact of trauma requires fluency in the varying manifestations of emotional distress and diverse pathways toward healing. As an organization dedicated to improving community mental health and wellbeing, using a race equity lens is crucial to our mission of eliminating health inequities. Racism is a public health issue. As such, we recognize that BIPOC communities face higher risks of experiencing individual, systemic and institutional racism, racial bias, and discrimination, all of which may increase stress and trauma. We recognize that these layers of trauma can be intergenerational and carry the potential for detrimental psychological impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of BIPOC individuals and their wider communities.
Structural racism leads to inequitable access to healthcare and prevention services in BIPOC communities and gaps in treatment needs and receipt, including inaccurate, over, and under diagnosis of mental health conditions. Furthermore, individual, family and community, and adaptive strengths and resilience are often overlooked and not centered in the co-development of prevention and intervention efforts.
In an effort to elevate the mental health experiences, individual and collective strengths and resilience of BIPOC communities, we curated a list of evidence-based videos from our Learning Center that address the structural racism, historical adversities, violence, and oppression that BIPOC communities face in systems of care, as well as handouts and resources to ensure BIPOC patients are provided with anti-racist and anti-oppressive services.
For educators:
Addressing Structural Racism in LA County Schools
Strategies for Engaging Students in Difficult Conversations
The Courageous Educator: Addressing Racism and Microaggressions in the Classroom
Understanding Implicit Bias and the Strategies to Mitigate Its Outcomes
For healthcare workers:
Anti-Racism in Autism Research and Treatment: Discussing a Way Forward
Indigenous Wellness and Health Models, Processes, and Healing
Making Access to Care Accessible and Acceptable for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)
Radical Healing in Relationships and Communities
Racial Protective Factors for Black Youth: Cultivating Resilience
Reducing Racial and Ethnic Bias in Child Abuse Reporting
The Ethics and Practice of Applying Radical Healing
Select Resources in Spanish | Recursos Selectivos en Español:
Cómo lidiar con el duelo de manera saludable
Consejos para aprovechar al máximo una sesión de terapia en línea