You can now listen to "How to Make Real Connections in a Digital World With Shahem Mclaurin,” the latest episode of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Strong Talk podcast series, hosted by AFSP Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement Victor (Vic) Armstrong, MSW.
Mental health conversations are becoming more common in the Black community, but systemic barriers still limit access to care. In this episode, Vic speaks with Shahem McLaurin — a Black, genderqueer, licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and influencer — about the root causes of mental health disparities, and how a strong community can solve them. Shahem also shares their journey through graduate school, where they confronted the inequities baked into social work, and turned an insult into a brand: Dr. Durag.
