During the summer of 2017, I experienced a trauma that shattered my sense of safety and trust. My life split into a “before” and an “after.” What happened to me that summer was traumatic, disorienting, and deeply violating. I remember the fear, the confusion, the shame, and the two gruelling years of navigating a justice system that felt cold and clinical at a time when I needed humanity the most. I also remember the silence.

Misdiagnoses: Black individuals are disproportionately diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to mood disorders, even when presenting with similar symptoms to white patients. This may stem from implicit bias, where clinicians misinterpret expressions of anger or distrust (often a reasonable response to systemic racism) as psychotic symptoms. Research has shown significant disparities in these diagnoses, highlighting the impact of bias.