The Sheriff’s Office recently hosted a Black History Month program for inmates at the Adult Detention Center that focused on mental health and wellness.

On February 16, GiShawn Mance, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Howard University and a licensed clinical psychologist, and two of her graduate students delivered an informative and empowering program to more than 60 detention center residents.

Dr. Mance (at right) provided a compelling overview of psychology in African American history, including the significance of the “Doll Test” by African American psychologists Dr. Kenneth Clark and Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark in the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education.

While engaging audience members, Dr. Mance also discussed the stigma associated with mental health in the Black community and explained the meaning of trauma and its recurring impact. She suggested that different and healthy coping strategies can benefit audience members and that mental wellness and self-care can help them make better decisions.

Her doctoral students, Tahra Anglade, M.S., and Charles Robinson-Snead, M.S., then guided attendees in different practical exercises that they could use at any time to redirect their attention and energy and to be present in the moment. The audience members were extremely receptive and interested and several indicated that they would be able to use these new tools to refocus and relax.

Following that part of the program, Inmate Services Librarian Kammie Stubblefield and Pastor Sheila Whiting led the entire audience in singing an uplifting version of “Lean On Me.”

As the program ended, Sheriff Sean Casey provided brief closing remarks in which he thanked Inmate Services staff and expressed his appreciation to Dr. Mance and her students for their excellent work.