Exploring Africentric and black feminist approach integration into a mainstream youth mental health organization

Abstract

This paper describes my efforts, through an advanced practicum, to identify and address existing gaps in culturally safe mental health services for African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities in Canada, and at Compass (a youth mental health agency in Sudbury, Ontario). These gaps are exacerbated by systemic racism and the Eurocentric approaches typically used in mental health services. Community experts, clinicians, and individuals with expertise in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) were consulted to ensure guidance from diverse voices and perspectives. I engaged Compass as an organization in evaluating their readiness to integrate Africentric practice perspectives, and I consulted community experts for their input into the process of integrating Africentric perspectives within Compass. The project underscores the significance of client-centered mental health care. Guided by the African Shona proverb, "Muzivi wenzira yeparuware ndiye mufambi wayo" (one who knows a path over a dwala /rock is the one who walks it), the project's philosophy highlights the expertise embedded in lived experiences. In collaboration with Compass staff and leadership, training and recommendations were co-designed to integrate Africentric and Black feminist approaches, fostering transparency, inclusion, and co-creation. Literature regarding key practice approaches commonly utilized at Compass was examined with an eye to identifying the limitations and congruencies of these approaches with Africentric practice, and adaptations toward greater congruence are recommended. Broaching, a key approach to connecting with clients when addressing issues such as racial trauma, was explored in relation to its use in Africentric practice. Africentric approach to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was coined as an approach that aligns with Ubuntu's principles, a set of values derived from numerous African cultures; principles emphasizing interconnectedness and collective well-being. The project aimed to identify areas in mental health for integrating Africentric and Black feminist approaches, empowering clients, enhancing trust, and promoting enriched outcomes through collaborative, culturally informed mental health practices.