Epigenomic Awareness as a Key to Black Mental Health: The Disruptive Effects of Not Knowing

Description

Epigenomic Awareness as a Key to Black Mental Health: The Disruptive Effects of Not Knowing, explores how a lack of awareness of epigenomics negatively impacts the mental health of the Black community. It explores how external factors like diet, toxins, anti-Black racism, and discrimination impact gene expression and overall well-being. The book explores the intricate relationship between environmental epigenomic signals and mental well-being and examines how these elements combine to influence an individual’s overall health.

Drs. Cooke and Webb explore the field of epigenetics, revealing how various factors contribute to significant health disparities. These disparities include higher rates of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The authors examine how environmental factors like stress, diet, and exercise can modify epigenetic alterations, and potentially reverse them by highlighting the biological mechanisms behind these changes. The text explores how DNA methylation and histone modification — microRNA processes — impact gene expression.

Many mental health providers find it challenging to fully understand the complexities and significant impacts of transgenerational inheritance. This work aims to provide scholars, researchers, and healthcare practitioners with a deeper understanding of the experiences of people of color, specifically Black people. It encourages the exploration of intertextual connections and the identification of knowledge gaps in existing literature.

Culturally competent healthcare providers are essential to delivering effective mental health care to diverse populations and addressing disparities. Finally, the book proposes recommendations to mitigate the risks of epigenetic consequences and pathways to optimal Black mental health.

Authors and Contributors

Benson George Cooke, Ed.D.

Benson George Cooke, Ed.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Counseling and Psychology and Director of the Graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in the Division of Education, Health, and Social Work, at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), located in Washington, DC. He the author and coauthor of several books including: (a) Personal Empowerment for People of Color: Keys to Success in Higher Education; (b) All About Depression; (c) Socio-Economic and Education Factors Impacting American Political Systems: Emerging Research and Opportunities; (d) Selected Aspects of Mentoring: Advice, Challenges, and Approaches; and (e) All About Depression: Issues, Treatment and Resources, 2nd Edition. As an invited keynote speaker, he has addressed diverse audiences at national and international conferences, symposiums, workshops, roundtable presentations, professional institutes, institutions of higher education, as well as podcasts, local and national radio and TV programs and Documentary Films. He is the recipient of the UDC Dr. Marjorie Holloman Parker Distinguished Educator’s Award and the UDC awardee for Faculty Excellence in Teaching presented by the UDC President’s Executive Cabinet. He served as the past national president of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) 2009–2011. Dr. Cooke received the 2016 ABPsi Distinguished Psychologist Award for his career contributions to the discipline, literature, and practice of psychology that has supported culturally salient mental health treatment for the African American community. Dr. Cooke holds Ed.D. and M.S. degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a B.A. degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Author profile

Schuyler “Sky” C. Webb, Ph.D., MB

Dr. Schuyler “Sky” Webb has held positions as an industrial/organizational, personnel, behavioral scientist, and communication strategy assessment specialist at multiple national and international locations.

He earned a BA from Morehouse College, an MS from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, and a MBA from National University. He then earned his doctoral degree in industrial-organizational/personnel psychology from Alliant International University, specializing in organizational audits, organizational development, program evaluation, and assessment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He produced rigorous methodologies, including surveys and polls, open-source data collection and analysis, mass communication strategies, and enhancing executive decision making. In addition, his role encompassed designing and implementing qualitative/quantitative research approaches, data cleaning and analysis, crafting intelligence reports, training staff members in research methodologies, summarizing think tank forums, implementing effective mass communication strategies, enhancing decision-making processes, cultural competence, and war gaming.

Dr. Webb has conducted a broad spectrum of research activities across six continents and cross-functional teams and has authored over 240 publications including books, chapters, journals, executive and technical reports, magazine and newspaper articles, and others. He is experienced in scientific and technical writing, editing, proofreading, proposal writing, data cleaning and analysis, and managing technical documentation for military operational and government reports.

During his naval career, he excelled as a senior research psychologist, executive medicine staff, Navy Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office staff, Naval Inspector General staff, Secretary of the Navy secretariat staff, Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (EO/DEI) staff, principal investigator, project officer, and other assignments.

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