Psychiatric Services From Pages To Practice

Sidney H. Hankerson, M.D., M.B.A., joins Dr. Dixon and Dr. Berezin to discuss efforts to train African American clergy interested in interpersonal counseling in managing major depression among community members, as they are positioned to curb the cultural mistrust and depression stigma that impedes the use of traditional psychiatric services among African Americans. Dr. Hankerson is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Journey to this area of research  Grady Hospital patients requesting pastor involvement  Importance of NAMI-sponsored suicide prevention program at a large church in Queens  Summary of current paper  Description of and relationship with church involved in the study  Talking with pastors and community members about the intervention  Distrust of institutions  Depression stigma  Future work involving community health workers  How to get involved  Personal connection with mental health