S4 E4: Resmaa Menakem on Somatic Abolitionism and Racialized Trauma (Part 2)

Beyond Theory

In this episode of the Beyond Theory podcast, Meadows Behavioral Healthcare Senior Fellow and New York Times bestselling author Resmaa Menakem delves into the pervasive impact of racialized trauma on mental health and addiction. Menakem, a leading voice in the conversation on healing racial trauma, discusses how deeply embedded notions of Black bodies as "superhuman" and able to withstand more pain lead to disparate treatment in healthcare, sports, and policing.

Menakem highlights the challenges faced by Black public figures like Naomi Osaka when they prioritize their mental health, as it threatens the status quo where Black bodies have historically been denied agency. He emphasizes the importance of somatic abolitionist work in behavioral health settings, which involves a committed, embodied practice of anti-racism to transform individuals and culture.

Key Takeaways:

1. Racialized trauma in behavioral health: Resmaa Menakem illuminates how deeply embedded notions of Black bodies as "superhuman" lead to disparate treatment in healthcare, sports, and policing, impacting mental health and addiction recovery.

2. Somatic abolitionism for healing racial trauma: Menakem advocates for somatic abolitionist work in behavioral health settings, involving a committed, embodied practice of anti-racism to transform individuals and culture.

3. Embodied anti-racist practices in behavioral health: To create sustainable cultural change, behavioral health professionals must cultivate embodied practices of reading, meeting, sharing, and scribing to deepen their anti-racist work.

4. Prioritizing Black mental health: When Black public figures like Naomi Osaka prioritize their mental health, it threatens the status quo where Black bodies have historically been denied agency, highlighting the need for change in behavioral health approaches.

5. Long-term approach to anti-racism in addiction recovery: Menakem stresses the importance of a long-term, depth-oriented approach to anti-racist work in behavioral health and addiction recovery settings, going beyond mere performance.

6. Creating a "container" for healing racial trauma: By committing to embodied anti-racist practices, behavioral health professionals can create a supportive "container" for the ongoing work of healing racialized trauma.

7. Strategies for behavioral health professionals: This episode offers powerful insights and strategies for behavioral health professionals looking to deepen their understanding of racial trauma's impact on mental health and addiction recovery.

Keywords: racialized trauma, behavioral health, mental health, addiction recovery, somatic abolitionism, anti-racism, embodied practices, healing racial trauma, cultural change, Black mental health, long-term approach, creating a "container", strategies for professionals

Through his work with organizations like Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, Menakem stresses the importance of a long-term, depth-oriented approach to anti-racist work that goes beyond performance. By cultivating embodied practices of reading, meeting, sharing, and scribing, behavioral health professionals can create a "container" to support the ongoing work of healing racialized trauma.