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Tag: systemic racism

Beyond the surface: Understanding paranoia through racial disparities and systemic influences (Part 2)

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[A black woman sitting a room, her chin resting in her hand, looking pensive.]

In Part 1, I explored how systemic racism and racial disparities shape paranoia, particularly among Black Americans. If you missed it, I highly recommend giving it a read—it lays the foundation for what I’ll discuss here. In this second installment, I’ll focus on how systemic biases influence the diagnosis of paranoia and mental health, and why culturally informed assessments are essential for delivering care that’s not just accurate, but empathetic and effectively attuned to reality for people of color…

Beyond the surface: Understanding paranoia through racial disparities and systemic influences (Part 1)

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[A Black man lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, appearing deep in thought or contemplation.]

Paranoia often conjures images of extreme beliefs: people out to get you, conspiring against you, or plotting harm. However, paranoia isn’t always that extreme—it exists on a spectrum, ranging from fleeting concerns about social judgment to full-blown persecutory delusions (fixed beliefs that you’re being targeted despite evidence to the contrary [Freeman et al., 2005]). Research shows that 30-40% of young adults experience some degree of paranoia, often tied to social anxiety or fears of negative evaluation…

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