In honor of Black History Month, join us for a discussion on mental health in the African American community hosted by the College of Pharmacy PEACE Committee.
Guest speakers include Antonette Anuwe, a licensed psychological associate, and pharmacy Class of 2019 alumnus, Dr. Chinedu Diokpa, a clinical psychiatric pharmacist.
Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 – via Zoom
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm CST
Register for the Zoom link here:
https://bit.ly/MHFEB17
For Current PharmD Students: This event qualifies for SEED credit (Self-aware and Includer domains). Register at the link above and join either via Zoom on your personal device or join us for a student group viewing in RES 100. Cookies will be provided.
Dr. Diokpa will shed light on some topics traditionally shrouded by shame and stigma in the Black community. “Mental health and well-being have often been considered an afterthought in the Black community due to seemingly more pressing concerns,” said Dr. Diokpa. “The reality is that mental health affects our ability to function. Unfortunately, some don’t realize this until that function is significantly impacted. It is important to prioritize mental health as one would any other aspect of physical health.”
Anuwe added, “Many people simply do not include mental health when they think about health, and many stigmas have been placed on seeking mental health support. These stigmas are rooted in stereotypes that regard African Americans as ‘stronger’ individuals. This sets us up to ignore, deny and even criticize this aspect of our health.”
“Attending this session is a great opportunity to check in with current mental health awareness and normalize mental health discussions. It is also a great opportunity to get curious about how to better serve African American patients in health care.”
More about the presenters:
Chinedu Diokpa, Pharm.D., BCPP
Inpatient Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner
VA North Texas Health Care System
Dr. Diokpa’s clinical experience includes treating patients with insomnia, mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders. He enjoys working closely with other disciplines to optimize patient care and is passionate about using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities to address acute mental health issues.
Dr. Diokpa completed his undergraduate training at the University of Texas at Austin and is an HSC alumnus, receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy in 2019. He began his career at the VA North Texas with a pharmacy practice residency before going on to complete a specialized residency in psychiatry. Dr. Diokpa is board-certified in psychiatric pharmacy with the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
Antonette Anuwe, MA, LPA
Licensed Therapist
As a licensed therapist, Antonette Anuwe guides individuals in building coping skills to manage trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and more in order to pursue their best lives. She is a self-care enthusiast and is passionate about spreading mental health awareness in the community.
Antonette received an undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in child and family studies from Baylor University. She completed a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and is licensed as a psychological associate.
Her clinical focus is in psychotherapy with teens and adults, as well as play therapy with children. Additionally, Antonette specializes in psychological testing and assessment.