b'24RAPPORT | Feature StoryWhy Representation Matters in Mental HealthStudents and Alumni Reflect on The Impact of Their Mentorsor communities keen on inclusion,draw for Cetouteone that rivaled the Colleges F representation of diverse perspectivesrobust roster of educators who looked like her. is key. Its been shown to buildHaving a strong Caribbean presence in this confidence and increase belongingprofessional setting, as evidenced by women doing among individuals from historically marginalizedwhat I want to do, has been incredibly inspiring, groups which, when it comes to mental health,says Cetoute in a nod to Dr. Gemima St. Louis and might make representation matter even moreDr. Natalie A. Cort, who hail from Haiti and Guyana than in other arenas. A dearth of behavioral healthrespectively. While this cadre of mental health providerscoupled with fewer ethnic, racial, sexual,professionals has supported Cetoutes journey in and linguistic minority providers among the existingvarious ways, she cites a special bond with one in workforceonly compoundsparticular.the problem, leaving individualsIn my very firstDr. Turner has been a from diverse backgroundsclass, taught by supportive champion of me and at a greater deficit than theirmy work [and] has always had peers. Representation providesDr. Shani Turner, my back, says Cetoute of her diverse groups a seat at the tableall my classmatesadvisor and second chair. She and ensures their voices andwere Black. has not only been encouraging, perspectives are heard. Readbut also validating of my on for a trio of William JamesAlyssa Cetoute, Clinicalexperience, understanding College students who, after seeingPsychology PsyD Student firsthand the barriers that themselves reflected in the facultyexist, particularly for women and staff on campus, continue to pay it forward byof color, says Cetoute of a cheering squad thats meeting the needs of diverse clients, including thosebeen powerful, comforting, and instrumental to who identify as BIPOC, Veteran, and LGBTQIA+. individuals like her (Cetoute is a licensed mental Alyssa Cetoute was a graduate student at Johnshealth clinician with a private practice) providing Hopkins University when she encountered her firstculturally competent care to the underserved professor of color, Dr. Norma Day-Vines. Severalcommunities and BIPOC populations with which years later, when the first-generation Haitian- they identifypresenting a win-win for all.American enrolled at 91香蕉视频成人在线 toSara Garde spent 19 years in the military pursue her PsyD in Clinical Psychology, she was(including two years total deployment) before met with a welcome surprise: In my very firstcontemplating graduate school. The mental health class, taught by Dr. Shani Turner, all my classmatescare provided by the United States Department of were Black, recalls Cetoute of the overwhelminglyVeteran Affairs (VA) was not aligning with her needs, emotional experience. The course, Intro to Africanso she sought an avenue that mightenrolling in the and Caribbean Mental Health, had been a bigPsyD program at 91香蕉视频成人在线 where the'