This webinar focuses on equipping behavioral health professionals with statistical and treatment considerations focusing on empowering the mental health and wellbeing of African American females. We will highlight unique experiences, circumstances and stress factors that impact the mental health of African American females, and best practices to treatment and resources. This activity additionally focuses on stigma, trauma and COVID-19 considerations that impact the mental health and wellbeing of African American females. Through this activity participants will have an understanding of cultural and gender considerations on African American female mental health and how to navigate these considerations through resources and therapeutic relationships. 

Format

Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.

This presentation was recorded on July 29, 2021.

Learning Objectives

• Evaluate the unique stress factors that impact the mental health of African American women and girls and strategies to reduce mental distress 
• Integrate racially and culturally sensitive treatment alternatives when working with African American females in a therapeutic environment 
• Utilize resources and therapeutic tools to aid in facilitating the positive mental wellness of African American females. 

Target Audience

Physician (Non-psychiatrist), Physician Assistant, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, medical students, and other mental health professionals  

Instructional Level

Intermediate

Estimate Time to Complete

Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour
Program Start Date: August 10, 2021
Program End Date: August 10, 2024

How to Earn Credit

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or a certificate of participation may do so by viewing the live presentation and completing the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the event date and hours earned.

Continuing Education Credit

Physicians    

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures

All financial relationships relevant to this activity have been mitigated.

Instructor

•  Lauren Carson is the Founder of Black Girls Smile Inc., she knows firsthand how important it is to work toward smiling fully and wholly. At the age of 15, she was diagnosed with clinical depression, and I knew the only way for her to live a full and meaningful life was to focus on my mental wellbeing. However, on her journey to mental healthiness, she found an immense lack of racially sensitive resources and understanding and awareness within the African American community toward mental health and mental illness and specifically geared toward young black girls. She has vowed to make it her life’s work to ensure others did not experience the same difficulties and were provided the resources and support to lead mentally healthy lives. 

Planners

• Nitin Gogtay, M.D., APA Chief of Research, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.

Technical Requirements

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Internet Explorer 11+

This website requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be:  Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.

Optimal System Configuration:

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements:

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact SMIadviserhelp@psych.org for technical assistance