Seeing both sides: detailing the experiences of Black women mental healthcare workers serving Black youth

BACKGROUND: The impacts of racial discrimination experienced by Black people in the United States and Canada have received a renewed focus. Within the mental healthcare sector, there has been a coinciding focus on how racism within and outside of mental healthcare organizations affects the mental health and wellbeing of Black youth. However, little attention has focused on the experiences of the mental healthcare workers best equipped to care for them: Black mental healthcare workers, in particular, women. Thus, the aim of this article is to 1) introduce and define Black Sistahood in Canada, 2) elucidate how anti-Black racism, sexism and other forms of oppression affect Black women, and 3) draw links to implications for the sector and the care of Black youth. METHODS: Focus groups (n = 7) with mental health service providers (n = 35) in six regions in the province of Ontario, Canada: The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, and Windsor. Focusing on participants who self-identified as Black or mixed-race (n = 24). RESULTS: Racism in the workplace created challenges for Black women mental healthcare workers. Three themes emerged: 1) Black women mental healthcare workers are subject to a toxic work environment, 2) Black women taking on multiple roles and 3) Impact on the profession and Black youth. CONCLUSIONS: Racism and discrimination impact the career trajectories of Black women employed in the mental healthcare sector. Due to this, Black women continue to leave the profession, which has a deleterious impact on the sector and care of Black youth.