Institutional racism in the psy disciplines

1. Institutional racism in the psy disciplines Suman Fernando www.sumanfernando.com Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities London Metropolitan University (Formerly) Consultant Psychiatrist Chase Farm Hospital , Enfield, Middesex UK

2. RACIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES FINDINGS IN ENGLANDTips of an iceberg—institutional racism + cultural insensitivity Black / Ethnic Minorities more often: Diagnosed as schizophrenic Compulsorily detained under M. H. Act Admitted as ‘Offender Patients’ Held by police under S. 136 of M. H. Act Transferred to locked wards Not referred for ‘talking therapies’ (and find these therapies do not ‘make sense’) Ref: Fernando and Keating, (2009) Mental Health in a Multi-ethnic Society. 2ndedn. Routledge, London (similar lists in Fernando (1988) Race and Culture in Psychiatry. Routledge, London and various reports over the years)

3. How racism permeated psy disciplines(Adapted from: Fernando (2017) Institutional racism in psychiatry and clinical psychology)

4. Interactions between ‘The West’ vs ‘The Rest’(from European perspective) Prior to 15 C ‘Era of merchants’ and travellers; ‘on trade routes and diplomatic missions’ (Kapuṥciῄski, p. 26) Post 15 C ‘Era of conquest, slaughter and plunder, the real dark ages’ (Kapuṥciῄski, p. 27) Post 17 & 18C ‘Enlightenment’ Era Cultural changes and dawn of ideas of liberty etc. in Europe with ‘attempts at understanding them [the other] ... exchanging cultural and spiritual values’ (Kapuṥciῄski, p. 27) but racism / white supremacy (supported by Hume, Kant, Hegel (see Eze, 2001) continued until mid-20th century fall of European Empires advocacy of human rights, multiculturalism., diminution of overt racist practices, but with turning back after 9-11, (Trump and Brexit) References Kapuṥciῄski, R (2008) The Other. Verso Press, London Fernando, S (2017) Institutional racism in psychiatry and clinical psychology; Race matters in mental health. New York and Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Eze, E. (1997) Race and the Enlightenment: A reader. Cambridge MA: Blackwell.

5. Cultural embedding of racism / white supremacy 1492 - 1865 Racism /white supremacy arose together with genocide of the racial-other in America, race-slavery and European colonialism (chicken and egg) Then on to ‘Whiteness’ (as superior social / cultural position—white supremacy), ‘white knowledge’ (derived only from knowledge of the global North) etc. Strengthened during the time of the (European) ‘Enlightenment’ becoming integral part of ‘European values’ that developed. Became deeply embedded in European culture – in the writing of history, social studies, medical theories (eugenic), education, psychiatry and psychology. 1945 onwards Jewish holocaust and fall of European Empires led to move away from / suppression of overtly expressed racism and some change in attitudes but 1960s onwards saw the rise of ‘new racisms’ persistence of institutional racism; exacerbated post 9-11 especially with Trump and Brexit.

6. End of WW2 Watershed moment for European culture (‘white civilisation’) Realisation of Jewish Holocaust Civil rights in USA - Collapse of European Empires Racism & colonialism became unacceptable Human Rights irrespective of race United Nations – WHO, UNESCO, etc.

7. New racisms 1960s onwards(examples) Sociology / epidemiology / cultural studies Admits effects of discrimination but conclusions are racist [Moynihan Report 1965; lack of depression in Africans until 1968 (Prince, 1968); Cheery denial (Bebbington, 1981); poor emotional differentiation (Leff, 1973)] Concept of racialisation Religious and other groups (e.g. refugees), treated as if they are ‘races’ Continuing racist IQ movement Institutional racism; subtle racism; ethnicity or culture as a marker of ‘race’; racism without racists.

8. Definition of ‘race’(‘social race’) ‘Race is a concept that signifies and symbolizes social conflict and interests by referring to different types of human bodies’ (Omi and Winant, 2015, p. 110, emphasis in original)

9. Theories of black racial inferiority (Old / New)(modified from Fernando 2017, p. 66 )

10. INSTITUTIONAL RACISM ‘The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantages minority ethnic people’. The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry by Sir William Macpherson (Home Department, 1999:28)

11. Recent effects of institutional racism in the psy disciplines How ‘depression’ was rare among Africans until 1968 (Prince, 1968) Over-representation of African-Caribbeans as ‘schizophrenics’ How schizophrenia became a black disease (Metzl, 2009) Racialisation of the schizophrenia diagnosis (Fernando 2017) How an epidemiological study (Aesop study) recommended social engineering of black families (Lewin, 2009; Fernando, 2017, pp.162-3) How psychological report produced insensitive, near-racist sentiments and failed to address concerns of black people (Fernando, 2017, pp. 163-167)

12. Thank You!sumanfernando@btinternet.comhttp://sumanfernando.com