Introduction to African & Caribbean Mental Health

SCH AC620 - Introduction to African & Caribbean Mental Health

Credits: 2

This course is designed to enhance students’ awareness and knowledge of the roles of class, race, ethnicity, and minority and immigrant status in influencing the mental health of individuals and groups of Black/African/African-American and Caribbean heritage. The course will present an Afrocentric perspective on psychology from its historical roots to modern times, and discuss the misuse of Western psychology to pathologize and marginalize people of color. It will introduce students to African/Black/African-American and Caribbean’s cultural views of mental health and illness; provide an overview of the geography, history, people, economics and other social characteristics of these groups; and explore mental health and illness with a broadened cultural perspective. The unique as well as common aspects of African, African-American and Caribbean cultures will be discussed.