Black mental health professionals in West Virginia believe that Black West Virginians are at a significant disadvantage when dealing with mental health issues than their white counterparts or even Black counterparts from other states. Contributing factors include the scarcity of culturally competent mental health professionals and mental health resources, stigma, the need for mental literacy, and poverty. This in-person presentation for West Virginia State University students will explore strategies for helping Black West Virginia residents remove barriers to seeking needed mental health care services.
Carl Chadband, M.Ed. has over 20 years experience providing training and technical assistance and program evaluation services. His areas of subject matter expertise include family strengthening, workforce development, social enterprise development, and incarceration prevention. He is the President of Rise Now, LLC, a team of professional consultants who are passionate about community development and helping others succeed.