MC6 Racial equality, diversity and inclusion: why is it difficult to talk about? How can we get comfortable with the uncomfortable?

Date: Tuesday 11 July
Time: 4.10pm - 5.25pm
Stream: Clinical practice

A global pandemic, polarising politics, widely exposed events of social injustice and subsequent movements for racial and social justice have driven the recent increased focus on racial equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Individuals and organisations have recognised the need to acknowledge and address the deep rooted systemic issues. However, on the ground level, there seems to be significant anxiety and reluctance to talk freely about EDI matters. Silence, avoidance, denial and distraction are some example behaviours employed to avoid open conversations.

This masterclass will include an initial educational session about why it is important to talk about EDI matters and the possible psychodynamic factors that hinder open and honest conversations regarding EDI matters.

This will be followed by a video clip where people from ethnic minority backgrounds and non-ethnic minority backgrounds talk about their personal experiences, views and apprehensions regarding initiating and maintaining such conversations.

This will be followed by a short panel discussion with a mix of people from diverse backgrounds (including Dr Ananta Dave, Dr Smita Pandit, Christy Thozer) to enhance the discussion about the usual anxieties, impulses, barriers and ideas to enable helpful conversations regarding racial equality, diversity and inclusion.

This session aims to help you:

  • Learn and understand the factors that hinder helpful conversations regarding racial equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Further enhance this understanding through personal experiences and perspectives of people from ethnic minority and non-ethnic minority backgrounds.
  • Together, generate ideas to enable such helpful conversations and how to get ‘comfortable with the uncomfortable'.
  • Improve the culture and wellbeing in the workplace.

Chair: Rachel Gibbons, London, United Kingdom

EDI matters. Why is it important to talk about them? What are the factors that hinder the open and honest conversations?

Swapna Kongara, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT), Preston, United Kingdom

Candace Bedu-Mensah, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT), Preston, United Kingdom

Panel discussion: How to enable helpful conversations regarding racial equality, diversity and inclusion?

Smita Pandit, Oxford Health, United Kingdom

Ananta Dave, Black Country NHS ICB, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

Christy Thozer, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT), Preston, United Kingdom

Register for Congress 2023

Please email congress@rcpsych.ac.uk or call 020 8618 4120 with any enquiries.