Black Well-Being and Ally Resources
Student Health on Haven joins with the larger Columbia community in expressing our grief, sorrow, and compassion to all those who have been and continue to be impacted by the racialized violence happening across the country. Recent killings are not isolated events and are only the most recent manifestation of our nation’s long history of structural racism, racialized violence, and white supremacy. We recognize that racism manifests at the ideological, institutional, and interpersonal levels.
In the words of Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, “we are living in a racism pandemic.”
Columbia Resources
- Office of Diversity, Culture, and Inclusion (Mailman School of Public Health)
- Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons)
- Office of Access, Equity, and Inclusion (College of Dental Medicine)
- Office Diversity and Cultural Affairs (School of Nursing)
- Office of University Life Inclusion and Belonging
More Resources
Navigate resources for Black-identified students, anti-racist education and tools for allies, as well as CUIMC-specific supports.
Draw on Your Networks
Draw on your existing supports or grow your network. Connect with those with whom you have a sense of belonging and/or consider joining a campus organization. These networks foster connections and serve as safe havens and a bridge between the academic, social, and cultural realms of graduate life for students of color.
Student Health Resources
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Individual psychotherapy and/or psychiatric evaluation, as well as group therapy through Counseling Services.
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Support Sessions: These one-off sessions facilitated by Counseling Service clinicians are designed specifically for students who may need space to reflect, ground themselves, and get support in response to current events unfolding around us.
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Virtual Gathering Spaces for Black-Identified Students: Designed for Black, African American, and Caribbean-identified students of all genders, this is a drop-in group for students to come together for mutual support and reflection, led by Tanyka Sam, MD and Ritu Agarwal, MA.
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Well-Being Strategy Sessions offered by Well-being and Health Promotion.
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Urgent needs: call us at 212-305-3400 and request to speak with a nurse or clinician immediately if you have an immediate concern about suicide, either personally or for someone else. This number is answered 24/7.
Resources for Black Folx
The events unfolding around us may be traumatizing and we recognize that they may be particularly injurious to members of our Black and African-American community. After experiencing or witnessing trauma, it is normal to experience a range of feelings and emotions, such as shock, fear, sadness, anger, helplessness, or guilt.
Self Care
Practice self-care and self-affirmation. Given the health outcomes associated with navigating race-related stressors, it is important to take care of your physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health.
- How Are Black Lives Matter Protesters Protecting Their Mental Health?
- Nap Ministry: Podcast and Readings
- Podcast: Therapy for Black Girls
- Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective
- Ourselves Black: A Podcast on Childhood Trauma
- Black Mental Health: 7 Self-Care Tips
- This Is an Uprising: On Non-Violent Revolt in the 21st Century
- Five Mental Health Podcasts by Therapists of Color
- Brooklyn Zen Center People of Color Virtual Sangha
- Radical Self-Care: 25 Tips for Black People
Resources for the Black Queer and Trans Communities
Anti-Racist Resources for Allies - Watch, Listen, Read
Are you ready to work on yourself to support people of color and address ways in which you enact and perpetuate racism? Not sure where to start?
Take a look at these Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources and note the stages of white identity development. Resources are provided that correspond to each stage.
Are terms and concepts you are hearing new or confusing? The following links may help expand or clarify language.
Watch
- A Conversation on Race: A Series of Short Films about Identity in America (length varies)
- 5 Things You Should Know About Racism | Decoded | MTV News (6 minutes)
- Tim Wise: White Privilege (10 minutes)
- Color Blind or Color Brave (14 minutes)
- Liberty, Democracy, Equity, and Justice in Healthcare: Leana Wen at Ted (15 minutes)
- The Danger of a Single Story (19 minutes)
- Bell Hooks: Pain to Power (90 minutes)
- Ted Talks to Help You Understand Racism in America (playlist)
Listen
- Unlocking Us: Brené Brown with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist
- Code Switch by NPR (Podcast Series)
Read
For more books, articles, and important think pieces for allies in anti-racism work, start with the excellent suggestions in the Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources
Document and report perceived bias and discrimination through your individual school’s reporting system and/or use:
- Columbia University’s Non-Discrimination Statement
- Employee Policies and Procedures on Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking
Acknowledgments
This page originated through a collaborative effort with Dr. Raygine DiAquoi, former Assistant Dean of the Office of Diversity, Culture, and Inclusion at the Mailman School of Public Health. We thank the many students and administrators who contributed. We look forward to hearing your feedback and additions by email to Jennifer Nguyen: jtn2119@cumc.columbia.edu.