Join the faculty of humanities for an evening of music, food and insightful conversation on the impacts of racial trauma in Black communities from the colonial era to today
The faculty of humanities at McMaster University will host a book launch for author and professor Ingrid Waldron on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will take place at the McMaster Continuing Education Building, Room 204. It is free to attend, with a catered meal provided for all guests.
Waldron is the Hope Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program within the faculty of humanities at McMaster. She has released a new book titled From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter: Tracing the Impacts of Racial Trauma in Black Communities from the Colonial Era to the Present, which examines how racism continues to affect Black people’s mental health.
Waldron’s book brings together research from her PhD thesis, published at the University of Toronto in 2002, along with recent studies conducted in Hamilton and Halifax on mental illness among Black people.
“In Hamilton last year I completed a study on mental health problems experienced by Black youth in Hamilton and their experiences seeking care or accessing mental health services . . . In 2020, when I was still living in Halifax, I did a study on Black women's experiences with mental illness and seeking care in Halifax . . . I also did a study at around the same time in Halifax on Black youth in Nova Scotia and their experiences with mental illness, but with a focus on psychotic illnesses,” said Waldron.
Waldron’s research shows how racism continues to shape many areas of life, including education, employment, health care and mental health services. She emphasized the importance of Black people understanding the history behind the racism they face.
“If we don’t understand that history, we tend to blame ourselves,” said Waldron. “We internalize oppression, we internalize our racism to the point where we feel that something about us is faulty.”
If we don’t understand that history, we tend to blame ourselves. We internalize oppression, we internalize our racism to the point where we feel that something about us is faulty.
Ingrid Waldron, Hope Chair in Peace and Health
Global Peace and Social Justice Program
Waldron explained that when Black people understand where these feelings come from, they are less likely to feel that they are the problem. She believes that recognizing the history of racism can help break the cycle of self-blame and foster healing.
Waldron also emphasized that her book empowers and validates Black readers rather than victimizing them.
“I think you feel empowered because I provide statistics and studies . . . So I think a person who reads that is able to point to the system as the cause of that and why that's happening,” said Waldron.
However, Waldron’s book is not just for Black readers. She encourages non-Black people, particularly White mental health professionals and policymakers, to read it and understand the profound impact of racism on Black mental health.
“Most mental health professionals are White, and most professors at universities who teach this are White . . . I need them to know that there’s a real impact of racism on Black people’s mental health. I need them to know that the mental health system needs to change. It needs to be much more culturally responsive to Black people of different cultures,” said Waldron.
The book also examines how mental health professionals interact with Black clients and calls for systemic changes in the field. Waldron advocates for more research on Black mental health, as well as mental health policies that reflect Black experiences. She also stresses the need for greater diversity in mental health policymaking.
“Mental health policymakers in Canada are typically White. And that’s the root of everything. Policy shapes programs, policy shapes services. So if all policymakers are White, male, middle class, they’re navigating their world as White men who are middle class. They’re not going to understand the experiences of people who are not White, male and middle class,” said Waldron.
Waldron hopes her book helps people understand the real impact of racial trauma.
“Racial trauma is real, racial trauma is valid. It’s real and it can lead to mental health problems experienced by Black people,” said Waldron. She also believes that it is important for everyone to be part of the solution, not just Black people.
Racial trauma is real, racial trauma is valid. It’s real and it can lead to mental health problems experienced by Black people.
Ingrid Waldron, Hope Chair in Peace and Health
Global Peace and Social Justice Program
Waldron hopes that both Black and non-Black readers come away understanding how they can work together to create a more equal and supportive mental health system.
If you are interested in this discussion, you can register to join Waldron at her book launch on March 26, 2025. For more details, visit the faculty of humanities' Instagram.
David A. Robertson discusses new book, All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety, offers powerful advice on mental health at Playhouse Cinema
On Jan. 23, 2025, award-winning author David A. Robertson was invited for a discussion about his new book at Playhouse Cinema, organized by gritLIT.
In a world where mental health is often misunderstood or stigmatized, Robertson offers a candid and compassionate look at his own battle with anxiety and depression in his new book, All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety.
Robertson offers powerful insights on finding strength in struggle and the importance of embracing mental health challenges. Through his book and conversation, Robertson aims to connect with others who may feel isolated in their own mental health battles, providing hope and wisdom to navigate the difficult yet transformative journey of living with anxiety and depression.
"If someone's going to look at me in my career and just see me hear me talk or read my book they might think that I've got it all together. And I think it's important to hear it sometimes that I don't and if I can struggle and if I can live with those struggles and I can still do what I'm doing then I think anybody can," said Robertson.
If someone's going to look at me in my career and just see me hear me talk or read my book they might think that I've got it all together.
David A. Robertson, Author
All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety
Robertson highlights the power of community by sharing lived experiences, underscoring how deeply stabilizing this connection can be for one’s mental health journey. He emphasizes that feeling understood and supported by others can play a vital role in healing and growth.
"The more we share with each other and the more we listen to each other, I think the more we were able to build a community of support for each other. And I think that's probably what I hope I'm able to do with the platform I have is maybe be a part of that community-building process," said Robertson.
Robertson understands discussing personal struggles or mental health challenges can often feel difficult, as vulnerability is frequently associated with embarrassment or shame. Robertson used an analogy to explain how opening up becomes easier with practice, emphasizing that the more we share, the less intimidating it becomes.
"It's like going off a diving board. You know you go up to the 15-meter platform and it takes you an hour to jump and you finally jump and you realize, oh, this isn't so bad. Then you get up again and you go again and that this time it takes you a minute. And then you jump next time you just don't even hesitate you just jump off. But I feel like that the more I talked about what I was going through and the more I was really open and honest . . . it actually was something I began to embrace," said Robertson.
The more I talked about what I was going through and the more I was really open and honest . . . it actually was something I began to embrace.
David A. Robertson, Author
All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety
Robertson believes that anxiety isn’t something that can be cured. Instead, he advocates for adopting a mindset focused on learning to live with mental illness, rather than striving for a permanent solution.
"You can't burn off your mental health struggles. You can't have them surgically removed, right? And so what's the next best thing? You have to learn how to live better with it, cause it's there. And so you have to carry it with you in a better way," said Robertson.
Robertson explained that for those who struggle in silence or avoid seeking help for their mental health, their concerns will only intensify over time and eventually catch up with them.
"I think that eventually will lead to a spiral and it'll kind of present itself in a destructive way. Eventually, the more you push it down, the more you ignore it, the more you pretend that it's not there; it just bubbles and it grows," said Robertson.
Mental health is a deeply personal journey, one that looks different for everyone. However, you don’t have to face it alone. By seeking support, you can find a community that becomes your lifeline.
If you ever need support, there are many mental health services available to help you through difficult times. Accessible resources for McMaster students such as crisis hotlines, counseling services and student support services offer confidential support and guidance. Do not hesitate to reach out to a professional who can provide the care and understanding you deserve.
If you're interested in normalizing conversations around mental health and challenging the stigmas that surround it, you can purchase All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety, where Robertson shares his hard-earned wisdom in hopes of making others' mental health journeys feel a little less lonely.
