radical mental health care with Oumou Sylla, LMFT, M.A.
Oumou Sylla, LMFT, M.A. (she/they)
despite the strides we’ve made as individuals and a society to recognize, destigmatize, address and treat mental health crisis in the united states, it remains an extension of an otherwise broken health care system. the mental health care system as we know it, is largely fixated on Western ideologies, which includes a carceral, punitive system that does not address the root cause of deeply rooted human suffering, pain, and the manifestation of psychosocial, cultural and geopolitical implications. practices such as mandated reporting in response to suicidal ideation, institutionalization, and extended hospital stays highlight the major gaps, (or rather, LARGE, gaping holes) in our response to our public mental health crisis.
additionally, what continues to be missing from the conversation on the IG and TikTok feeds labeled #wellness #selfcare #mental health is the social determinants of health, the role of capitalism and exploitation of labor in our mental health, and what culturally relevant tools look like, for us, by us.
needless to say, we need more options to sync community care, resources, and mitigate mental health crises now more than ever. what skills and support do we need to radicalize mental health care so that it becomes the accessible, teachable, and approachable source that we can rely on?
enter: Oumou Sylla.
meet Oumou (@connectwithoumou): the badass, queer, Muslim, Senegalese therapist radicalizing mental health first aid worldwide. Oumou (she/they) is a multi-hyphenate polycreative - therapist, coach, disruptor, writer, speaker, consultant and facilitator of spaces for radical learning. Oumou is a two-time graduate of Syracuse University and former adjunct professor of the same school. they are the creator of radicalizing mental health first aide (RMHFA), a workshop that is slowly but surely changing the care and mental health landscape.
in this episode with @connectwithoumou, Oumou shares:
1. how the intersectionality of race, class, gender and culture impacts global and local mental health care ✍🏾
2. defining and creating radical mental health first aide (RMHFA), how to recognize burnout, designing ‘a bid for care’, and exploring culturally relevant healing tools and practices 🤲🏾
3. what the future of accessible and transformative mental health care and community care will look like from Oumou’s POV🫶🏾
download our episode wherever you listen to podcasts 🎧🤎
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