Published: 04 October 2024
Former Global Health and Mental Health MSc student, Olivia Shaw-Lovell, spoke to The Beat about her dissertation topic, her work in decolonising mental health treatment and what Black History Month means to her.
Tell us about yourself, your course, and your dissertation.
I am Olivia Shaw-Lovell, a proud advocate for mental health, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized women, particularly through my work with Women of Destiny, the NGO I founded in Jamaica. My academic and professional journey has been deeply influenced by my personal experiences, driving my desire to explore the intersections of mental health, gender-based violence (GBV), and the lingering effects of colonialism.
I recently completed my MSc in Global Health and Mental Health at St George’s University, as a Chevening Scholar from Jamaica where I conducted research on “Decolonizing Global Mental Health: Narrative-Based Interventions for Black Caribbean Women Survivors of Gender-Based Violence, and the Role of Artificial Intelligence as a Decolonial Tool in Jamaica.” My dissertation centers on understanding how the colonial legacies that continue to shape mental health services in post-colonial societies like Jamaica affect Black Caribbean women, particularly survivors of GBV. It examines how Western psychiatric models often clash with the cultural and spiritual realities of these women and proposes narrative-based approaches that allow survivors to reclaim their stories. I also explore how emerging technologies like AI can help make mental health interventions more accessible, especially in under-resourced areas, without losing the cultural resonance essential to healing.
My research ultimately calls for a holistic mental health framework—one that considers the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit—which is central to African and Caribbean healing traditions. By blending these traditional practices with innovative technologies, I envision a future where mental health care no longer alienates, but rather empowers Black women and other marginalized groups to heal on their own terms.
What are some of the key issues within mental health treatment for Black patients?
One of the most significant challenges is the cultural dissonance between mainstream mental health services, which are largely grounded in Western biomedical models, and the lived realities of Black patients. These Western models tend to focus on clinical diagnoses and treatments, often ignoring the cultural and historical contexts that shape the mental health of Black individuals. As a result, many Black patients, particularly those from the Caribbean and Africa, experience mental health services as foreign and disconnected from their cultural frameworks.
In my research, I highlight the colonial legacies that have left a lasting imprint on mental health services in Jamaica and other post-colonial societies.
Historically, colonial powers viewed any behavior that deviated from their rigid frameworks—whether it was resistance to oppression, spiritual practices, or emotional expressions—as signs of “madness.” This notion of mental illness was often used as a tool of control rather than care. Today, the remnants of this mindset still permeate mental health systems, where Black patients are often misdiagnosed, pathologized, or dismissed entirely.
- Olivia Shaw-Lovell -
For instance, Black individuals are often labeled as "aggressive" or "angry" when they express their pain, leading to inappropriate diagnoses and interventions. This is particularly alarming when considering that Black people in the UK are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than their white counterparts (NHS Digital, 2022).
Another key issue is the systemic racism that continues to plague healthcare systems. Black patients often face barriers to accessing mental health services, not just because of the cultural mismatch but also due to the lack of trust in healthcare institutions that have historically marginalized them. The underrepresentation of Black mental health professionals further compounds this issue, as patients often feel misunderstood or alienated when their experiences are dismissed by practitioners who lack cultural competence.
Lastly, mental health stigma within Black communities also plays a role. Mental health struggles are often seen as weaknesses, and seeking help is sometimes viewed as a sign of personal failure or “madness.” This stigma is deeply rooted in colonial-era attitudes that equated mental illness with moral or spiritual failings. In many Caribbean societies, for example, mental health is still considered taboo, and individuals who seek help often do so in secrecy, which exacerbates feelings of shame and isolation.
How do you think some of these issues can be addressed?
To address these challenges, we need a decolonized approach to mental health—one that acknowledges the historical and cultural realities of Black patients and provides care that resonates with their lived experiences.
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Decolonizing mental health care, as I defined in my dissertation, goes beyond merely rejecting Eurocentric frameworks—it is about reclaiming and centring our own ways of knowing, being, and healing that have been suppressed or erased through colonialism. Decolonization is a process of restoring autonomy to Black individuals and other marginalized groups by integrating culturally grounded practices into mental health care that honour our spiritual, communal, and historical identities.
One of the solutions I explore in my dissertation is the use of narrative-based approaches. Unlike traditional psychiatric models that focus on diagnosis and treatment, narrative-based therapies allow individuals to reclaim their stories and place their experiences within a broader cultural and historical context. This is especially important for Black individuals, whose voices have historically been silenced or misrepresented by colonial narratives. Techniques such as storytelling, creative expression, and body mapping can help survivors of GBV process their trauma in ways that feel authentic and empowering; this trauma informed approach can also be used in other contexts when necessary. This approach aligns with indigenous knowledge systems, which emphasize the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in the healing process. My dissertation proposes a 'Decolonial Healing Tree' framework, which integrates narrative empowerment with culturally grounded mental health interventions.
Another important step is the integration of cultural competence training for mental health professionals. Mental health practitioners need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to understand the historical traumas that Black patients carry and how these intersect with race, gender, and socio-economic status. Training programs must prioritize cultural sensitivity and empathy, ensuring that practitioners can meet Black patients where they are, rather than imposing rigid Western frameworks that often do more harm than good.
Incorporating community-based interventions is also crucial. By building mental health services that are rooted in the community and that engage with trusted cultural figures such as spiritual leaders, we can help bridge the gap between formal mental health services and the informal support networks that many Black individuals rely on. This approach can also help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health by normalizing conversations about mental well-being in spaces where Black patients feel safe and understood.
Finally, we must advocate for greater representation of Black mental health professionals. Representation matters—not just because it builds trust between patients and providers, but because it ensures that mental health care is designed and delivered by those who truly understand the cultural, spiritual, and social dimensions of the Black experience.
What are some other challenges faced exclusively by Black patients within healthcare/treatments?
Black patients often experience racial bias in healthcare, where their pain and symptoms are minimized, misdiagnosed, or outright ignored. This is particularly evident in mental health settings, where Black individuals are disproportionately subjected to coercive treatments such as involuntary detainment under mental health laws. For example, in the UK, Black people are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than their white counterparts, not because they have higher rates of mental illness, but because they are more likely to be perceived as dangerous or disruptive rather than in need of care (NHS Digital, 2022).
This mistrust between Black patients and the healthcare system is further exacerbated by the lack of representation among healthcare professionals. When mental health practitioners do not reflect the cultural backgrounds of their patients, it creates a disconnect that leaves Black patients feeling unseen and misunderstood. Without adequate cultural competence, clinicians may fail to recognize the ways in which Black patients express distress or seek support, leading to inappropriate diagnoses and ineffective treatments.
Black patients also face challenges that go beyond individual interactions with healthcare providers. Structural inequalities, such as the underfunding of mental health services in Black communities, and the limited availability of culturally competent care, further exacerbate these disparities.
For Black women in particular, who often carry the additional burden of gendered expectations such as the “Strong Black Woman” stereotype, the pressure to remain resilient in the face of adversity can prevent them from seeking the help they need. This stereotype, while celebrated in many Black communities, can be a double-edged sword, as it discourages vulnerability and reinforces the idea that seeking help is a sign of weakness.
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What does Black History Month and its 2024 theme of ‘reclaiming narratives’ mean to you?
For me, Black History Month is a time of both reflection and action. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the strength and resilience of Black people, while also challenging the systemic inequalities that continue to exist. The 2024 theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ resonates deeply with my work and my personal mission. Too often, Black histories, particularly those of Black women, have been told through colonial and patriarchal lenses, distorting our stories and silencing our voices. Reclaiming our narratives means taking back control over how our stories are told, who tells them, and how they are received.
In my research, I emphasize narrative-based approaches that empower Black Caribbean women to reclaim their stories after experiencing violence. These women move from being seen as victims to being recognized as active agents of their own healing and liberation. It’s about more than just telling our stories—it’s about transforming pain into power and using our narratives to resist the systems that have sought to silence us for generations. As Bob Marley said, “None but ourselves can free our minds.” This sentiment captures the essence of reclaiming narratives, reminding us that the power to heal and transform our lives lies within us.
For me, this theme is not only about reclaiming the past, but also about reshaping the future. It’s a call to action for all of us—especially those working within systems of power—to create space for Black voices, Black stories, and Black truths.
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It’s about recognizing that our stories are not just our own—they are part of a larger legacy of resistance, survival, and liberation that continues to shape the world around us.