What Can We Do?

Introduction: Patients and clinic staff have experienced profound challenges from the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Patients of color have experienced increased internalized racism, which has led to symptoms of psychological distress, whereas other patients have expressed racist beliefs. Staff members of color have experienced the same psychological distress that patients have, and clinics are comprised of individuals who hold racist beliefs. These conditions have created difficult realities for behavioral health consultants (BHCs). Objectives: The narrative will provide an overview of a day in the life of a BHC navigating these changes and how a question posed from a patient moved that BHC to ask the question, "What can I do?" Conclusion: Future research should evaluate the ways in which racism impact staff and patients alike while assessing how healthcare staff can work to make systematic change in their clinics and beyond.