Events Highlight Intersection of Work, MH, Cultural Diversity

APA’s Office of Minority and National Affairs and the American Psychiatric Foundation’s Partnership for Workplace Mental Health are teaming up to facilitate two events at APA’s 2013 annual meeting focused on the intersection between work, mental health, and race and culture.

The symposium “Work, Mental Health, and Cultural Diversity: A Dynamic Triad” will be held Sunday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The symposium will look at how discrimination in the workplace—be it racial, ethnic, cultural, or sexual orientation—affects one’s mental health and how its sequelae can be addressed in clinical practice. The symposium will also discuss the important role of employment in recovery. Speakers include Price Cobbs, M.D., Keris Myrick, M.B.A., M.S., Donald Williams, M.D., and Amani Nuru-Jeter, Ph.D., M.P.H.

A second OMNA on Tour community event, “Mental Health Matters: Making Culture Work,” will address how to help patients succeed at work in the face of overt discrimination or subtle micro-aggressions. This interactive forum, which will be held Friday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., will address the effects of such discrimination and the disconnect between corporate policies related to diversity and the reality of everyday life at work.

While many companies articulate a commitment to diversity, successfully putting it into practice is a much more difficult reality. A corporate policy alone cannot prevent employees from experiencing the effects of discrimination existing in society at large. Not all discrimination is overt—it can be subtle, for example, micro-aggressions can affect employees’ experience at work and their overall mental health. This symposium will discuss the important role of employment in recovery.

This event is open to psychiatrists, employers, and others in the community. Meeting registration is not required. A light breakfast will be offered. ■