Black and African Americans are the second largest racial group and third largest ethnic group in the United States, comprising approximately 13% of the population(1). Black Americans have experienced pervasive discrimination and structural racism since the advent of the nation’s history. Additionally, the livelihoods of Black Americans have been inextricably linked with disparate treatment by the field of psychology. Racialized explanations for biological fitness and moral capacity(2), intelligence deficits(2), and the biased diagnosis of mental illness among Black Americans(3), are just a few examples of how the field of Psychology has perpetuated scientific racism towards this community.

However, Psychology broadly (and clinical psychology specifically) is well-poised to address some of these historical and contemporary ills through the active promotion and dissemination of culturally responsive mental health treatment and psychoeducation. Studies indicate that approximately 70% of Black Americans who have a mental illness do not seek treatment for it(4), and that this is likely attributed to a collection of barriers both logistical (e.g., cost, availability, transportation) and attitudinal (e.g., stigma, perception of appropriate fit, and motivation). Our research dedicated to the integration of technology and digital mental health interventions to circumventing barriers to treatment, contributes to the movement for improving access and reducing the mental health burden for Black communities.

We at the Anxiety Research and Treatment lab stand in full solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and other efforts around the country to stop violence against Black Americans. We Say Their Names. We recognize that white supremacist violence is an urgent public health problem and that overwhelming collective action will be necessary to dismantle systems of power that disproportionately inflict violence on Black Americans. Below, we list specific commitments that we have made to hold ourselves and our field accountable to the pursuit of justice, equity, and liberation.

Our Commitment to Action

• Representative Recruitment: We will recruit Black/African American identifying participants in research studies at rates proportionate to local population estimates (34%)(5).
• Inclusive/Bias Free Language: We will use intentional and specific racial and ethnic terms including Black, African American, and/or identify national origin where possible (e.g. Jamaican, Nigerian, Kenyan, etc.). As a designated proper noun, “Black” will be capitalized per APA guidelines(6). We will discontinue all use of the ethnic identifier “Caucasian”(7).
• Singular Referent: APA guidelines caution against using majority groups as a reference point for findings from minority groups(8). Accordingly, we will avoid use of White samples as a comparison demographic for Black statistics unless explicitly supported by a theoretical and data-driven rationale.
• Equitable Citations: We will make intentional considerations about the equitable inclusion of diverse citations by citing Black-identifying authors whenever possible and indicated by the study rationale.