“Microaggressions and Strategies to Overcome Prejudice”

BACKGROUND: First written about in 1970, Harvard University psychiatrist and science researcher, Dr. Chester Pierce coined the term microaggression to describe the experiences of African Americans post Jim Crowe era. Today, the term has evolved to include minorities, under-represented groups and vulnerable populations everywhere. In addition, understanding microaggressions is critical in health care settings, particularly given the burgeoning literature on the mental health impact of certain groups of people. OBJECTIVES: Assess the various forms of microaggressions—microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations—experienced by minority and vulnerable populations in India and the USA. Demonstrate health and mental health consequences of microaggressions. Discuss effective strategies overcome microaggressions in health care settings. METHODS: The presenters will review the literature on microaggressions in everyday life and in health care settings. Evidence based literature describes the health consequences for recipients of microaggressions and the mental health effects of a cumulative lifetime of microaggression on certain groups. The audience is engaged in an exercise to demonstrate the subtle yet powerful aspects of microaggressions. FINDINGS: Evidence from studies in psychiatry and mental health literature as well as diversity and bias trainings in medicine show the prevalence and impact of microaggressions particularly on minority and under-represented individuals. Moreover, these effects can have implications for health care delivery systems. CONCLUSIONS: Microaggressions are ubiquitous and their health consequences for minority groups makes this topic increasing relevant for mental health providers. Diversity, equity and inclusion are core competencies in medicine; moreover, awareness of microaggressions and effective mitigation strategies is critical for mental health providers and health care systems. REFERENCES: 1. Parekh R, Padilla A, et al., “Microaggressions: Effects in Early Life and Strategies to Overcome,” Cultural Psychiatry with Children, Adolescents, and Families. Edited by Parekh R, Al-Mateen C, Lisotto M, Carter, R. APA Publishing, 2021; 2. Sue DW: Microaggressions in Everyday Life, Second Edition. Hoboken, NJ, Wiley, 2020; 3. Parekh R, Bell C and Weintraub K. Overcome Prejudice at Work, Harvard Health Publishers, Dec 2012; 4. Ong AD, Burrow AL: “Microaggressions and Daily Experience”. Perspect Psychol Sci 12(1):173-175, 2017; 5. Pierce CM: “Stress Analogs of Racism and Sexism: Terrorism, Torture, and Disaster”, Mental Health, Racism and Sexism. Edited by Willie C, Rieker P, Kramer B, et al., Pittsburg, PA, University of Pittsburg Press, 1995, PP 277-293. 6. Omaiha Walajahi, “Explaining Microaggressions in India”, http://hyderabadpsychologist.com.