In this podcast Sana Chehimi, director of policy and advocacy for Prevention Institute, interviews Isha Weerasinghe, a senior policy analyst on the youth team at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). They discuss the importance of supporting mental health and wellbeing for communities of color to achieve an equitable COVID-19 recovery and as part of dismantling systems that perpetuate structural violence and racism. Isha describes how applying a racial justice lens to center lived experiences and community leadership allows CLASP to broaden the understanding of mental health and wellbeing and develop policy solutions and strategies that are otherwise overlooked.
Read more about CLASP’s work:
Behind the Asterisk*: Perspectives on Young Adult Mental Health from "Small and Hard-to-Reach" Communities
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/behind-asterisk
Reconnecting, Realizing and Reimagining Justice: Advancing Economic Justice for Individuals and Communities Impacted by the Criminal Justice System
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/reconnectingjustice
“Everybody Got Their Go Throughs”: Young Adults on the Frontlines of Mental Health
https://www.clasp.org/sites/default/files/publications/2017/08/Everybody-Got-Their-Go-Throughs-Young-Adults-on-the-Frontlines-of-Mental-Health.pdf
Between the Lines: Understanding Our Country’s Racialized Response to the Opioid Overdose Epidemic
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/between-lines-understanding-our-country-s-racialized-response-opioid
Ten Core Competencies for Youth and Young Adult Centered Mental Health Systems
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/ten-core-competencies-youth-and-young-adult-centered-mental-health-systems
Refining Evidence-Based Practices: Expanding Our View of Evidence
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/redefining-evidence-based-practices-expanding-our-view-evidence
Unlocking Transformation and Healing: Overview of Policy Options for Accessible Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Care
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/unlocking-transformation-and-healing-overview-policy-options-accessible
Mental and Behavioral Health System Fixes During the COVID-19 Crisis, and Beyond
https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/mental-and-behavioral-health-system-fixes-during-covid-19-crisis-and
"We are pressed on every side, but we are not crushed" by Kisha Bird
https://medium.com/@CLASP_DC/we-are-pressed-on-every-side-but-we-are-not-crushed-5206f6de093f
"Divest to save Black lives. Invest to heal communities" by Duy Pham and Kayla Tawa
https://www.clasp.org/blog/divest-save-black-lives-invest-heal-communities?utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=youth&emci=2287a787-71c0-ea11-9b05-00155d03bda0&emdi=7e74bca6-8cc0-ea11-9b05-00155d03bda0&ceid=6522859
"Defund police in schools and expand school-based mental health" by Whitney Bunts
https://www.clasp.org/blog/defund-police-schools-and-expand-school-based-mental-health?utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mh&emci=2287a787-71c0-ea11-9b05-00155d03bda0&emdi=7e74bca6-8cc0-ea11-9b05-00155d03bda0&ceid=6522859
*Photo credit: Sarah Mittermaier
