“Racial Trauma: How Racism can cause PTSD,” with Monnica Williams now available on YouTube

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the inaugural Janis Rotman Distinguished Lecture on Mental Wellness, which featured an engaging talk on how racial trauma can cause PTSD by Dr. Monnica Williams.

For those who were not able to join us for this lecture on October 6, the video for this event is now available on FIFSW’s YouTube channel. We have also embedded it below.

The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work would like to thank Janis Rotman for her generous lead gift to the Talk It Out Online Counselling Clinic, which inspired this lecture series.

About the talk

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) describes the constellation of symptoms that may occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Anyone exposed to traumatic event is at risk of developing PTSD, and this typically includes survivors of violent acts or disasters, emergency responders, abuse victims, and combat veterans. However, many other events can be traumatic as well, particularly to people of colour.

This presentation provides an overview of the cultural factors relevant for racialized groups, with an emphasis on understanding PTSD caused by experiences of racism, or racial trauma.

Monnica Williams, Ph.D. is a board-certified, licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapies. She was named one of the top 25 thought leaders in PTSD by PTSD Journal and one of the 16 most influential women shaping the future of psychedelics by Business Insider. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Disparities, and Director of the Laboratory for Culture and Mental Health Disparities. She is also the Clinical Director of the Behavioral Wellness Clinic, LLC in Tolland, Connecticut, and she has founded clinics in Kentucky, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Williams has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, as well as many book chapters and scientific reports, with a focus on anxiety-related conditions and cultural differences, including articles about therapeutic best practices.

> Click here to view more public lectures on FIFSW’s YouTube channel