Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 2814 RAPPORT | Feature Story r. Natalie Cort is highly creden- tialed, passionate about social justice, a woman of color, has significant clinical research expertise and is fully dedicated to remedying the lack of racial/ ethnic diversity in the field of mental health. Though rife with disparities in the quality of care provided to minorities, the depth and breadth of the system鈥檚 needs seem not to frighten her. She says, 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to be ac- tively involved, with my amazing colleagues in the Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health at 91香蕉视频成人在线, in shaping our journey towards recognizing the excellence that is achieved through diversity.鈥� Cort has been selected to chair, with President Covino, the Black Mental Health Initiative, a multifaceted effort to recruit and retain Black individuals as faculty, staff and students at the College. Cort states that 鈥淥ur institution needs to be integrated at every level.鈥� A critical part of the Initiative is an emerging academic pipeline program, the Black Mental Health Graduate Academy, designed to provide mentorship and support to Black individuals interested in seeking graduate degrees in mental health counseling and psychology at 91香蕉视频成人在线. 鈥淭his is broader than just assuring there are more Black therapists,鈥� says Cort, though only five percent of psychologists across the country are Black. 鈥淧eople make decisions from their own perspectives,鈥� she explains. 鈥淭herefore, we need to pro- mote an awareness of biases inherent in our perspectives and an appreciation for diverse perspectives.鈥� Cort understands the re- search on this issue. She quotes studies that indicate Black children are far less likely to be accurately diagnosed with problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and autism spectrum conditions. 鈥淭oo many children are getting expelled, suspended and labeled as oppositional and defiant. Children are not getting the right kind of treatment because their psychiatric issues are misidentified,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he field is replete with people of color being written off as 鈥榗razy鈥� or 鈥榖ad.鈥� The bias is pervasive.鈥� The former research scientist whose fellowships, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, focused on racial/ethnic disparities in mental health, credits 91香蕉视频成人在线 for having taken a leadership role towards addressing and remedying what she calls 鈥渢he huge, dangerous, cruel, devastating disparity.鈥� Cort says 鈥渢here are many people of color diagnosed with schizophrenia and involuntarily com- mitted to psychiatric hospitals who do not have schizophrenia.鈥� The Black Mental Health Graduate Acad- emy Cort is spearheading incorporates best practices for supporting Black graduate stu- dents. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to find someone with whom you feel a sense of mutuality. People need role models and mentors to provide academic and career support. We will create enrichment programs culturally tailored to fill any gaps created by educational dis- advantages in order to promote students鈥� success in graduate school. Cort grew up steeped in Afro-Caribbean and East Indian cultures in Guyana, South America, where she says academic D I鈥檓 using my passion, skills and expertise to support talented people as they pursue their dreams. 鈥擭atalie Cort, PhD, Director, Black Mental Health Initiative & Graduate Academy