Joseph J. Peters Institute, a PHMC subsidiary, hosted “Addressing Mental Health Stigma in Communities of Color,” a thought-provoking panel discussion sponsored by TD Bank and led by keynote speaker and moderator Dr. Argie Allen Wilson.

This special event explored the challenges facing communities of color, including the critical need for culturally responsive mental health services and the ongoing work of breaking down barriers to treatment, support, and healing.

Dr. Allen-Wilson opened her keynote with the importance of understanding from where stigma comes from: “The survival strategies that protected one generation can sometimes become emotional barriers for the next.”

She also highlighted her “Four Ts of Accountability” – Truth, Trust, Transparency and Transformation – as a framework for healing and meaningful change. “Healing begins when we create spaces where people feel safe enough to tell the truth about how they are really doing,” she noted.

Attendees also heard themes of normalizing mental health care – a “check-up from the neck up,” as panelist Donna Bailey put it – trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and the power and opportunity in faith and family with respect to seeking care, as well as impacts on access and creative solutions in the wake of HR 1.

Panelists agreed on the importance of acknowledging stigmas and looking past the surface when assessing barriers to care, and the discussion served as a powerful call to action for the mental health providers in the room.

Thank you to our speakers for bringing your perspectives and expertise to this important conversation!

  • Dr. Argie Allen-Wilson, Co-Founder/Chief Clinical Officer (Connections Matter LLC, Mental Health First Connects LLC & F.A.I.T.H. Connects Inc., a respected leader and advocate in behavioral health and community wellness.
  • Donna Bailey, CEO of Community Behavioral Health
  • Dr. John G. Taylor, Assistant Professor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Sexuality Educator, Public Health and Nutrition Department at La Salle University
  • Pennsylvania State Representative Morgan Cephas
  • Dr. Jayatri Das, Chief Bioscientist and Director of Science Content at The Franklin Institute

We appreciate all the community leaders, healthcare professionals, advocates, educators, and partners who joined us.

Joseph J. Peters Institute (JJPI), a subsidiary of PHMC, is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality and evidence-based education, prevention, training, evaluation, and treatment services in Philadelphia and surrounding communities. JJPI is a leader in trauma treatment, including treatment of those exposed to sexual and relational violence. Learn more: www.jjpi.phmc.org