Image Source: Clear Behavioral Health
Aug 12, 2024 Story by: Editor
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black community in the U.S. experienced a disproportionately high death rate compared to the white community—441.9 out of 100,000 Black individuals, versus 268.5 out of 100,000 White individuals. On top of the devastating impact of the virus, Black Americans were further traumatized by the highly publicized killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, which went viral on social media. According to both the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association, the combination of the pandemic, economic crisis, and increased visibility of racial injustice led to a significant rise in mental health issues for millions of Americans.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine found that Black mental health professionals (BMHPs) across 15 different helping professions—including social workers, doctors, and nurses—experienced significantly higher rates of burnout and racial trauma compared to other ethnic groups.
“Distress and mistrust of White mental health professionals within the Black community have resulted in many Black therapists experiencing increased demands for counseling,” explained Eric Brown, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and corresponding author of the study. Brown also noted that Black counselors and psychologists often find themselves having to process their clients’ racial traumatic stress while also dealing with their own emotional responses to personal racial experiences and the loss of Black lives during the pandemic.
The study surveyed 182 Black psychologists and counselors to examine their levels of racial trauma, burnout, and social support. Participants were also asked about the presence of mentors, the frequency of their meetings, and their sense of calling to work with the Black community.
The researchers found that higher levels of social support, along with a recognition of how external factors can influence one’s life, were linked to lower levels of burnout and racial trauma among Black mental health professionals. Moreover, resilient coping skills were significant predictors of reduced burnout. More frequent meetings with a mentor were also shown to lower the incidence of racial trauma.
The study concluded that Black mental health professionals play a critical role in community healing, yet the emotional toll of caring for Black patients may leave them more susceptible to racial trauma and burnout. “One way to advocate for racial equity in mental health care, and to build trust within the Black community, is to recruit and support more Black persons into the mental health professions. High levels of social support may serve to ameliorate some of the negative impacts of burnout and racial trauma,” the researchers suggested. Source: BUMC
