Black History Month
Every October, we celebrate Black History Month. As part of this, it's important to recognise and celebrate the diverse past, present and future of the College.
Throughout the month, we mark the contribution of some of our Black psychiatrists to mental health services and use the occasion to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people to society.
2025
The theme for this year's Black History Month is 'Standing Firm in Power and Pride', which highlights the profound contributions made by Black people be they leaders, activists, or pioneers who have shaped history, while also looking towards a future of continued empowerment, unity, and growth.
So, it’s fitting to start our celebrations with a short message from our new Aggrey Burke Fellows - Iyinoluwa Popoola, Elsie Ampomah and Pettiann Bhoorasingh.
They share their insights on why the Aggrey Burke Fellowship Scheme, started by RCPsych in 2023 for Black medical students considering a career in psychiatry and named after the first Black psychiatrist to work in the NHS, Dr Aggrey Burke, is so important to them and for the future of psychiatry.
Podcast
In this Black History Month edition of our podcast, we hear from our Aggrey Burke Fellowship participants. They discussed their motivations for joining, memorable experiences, the importance of representation in psychiatry, and the challenges they faced. They also reflect on how the fellowship has shaped their perspectives on mental health, career development, the significance of networking and mentorship in their journey as future psychiatrists, and what it means to stand in power and pride.
Blog post by our President
As we near the end of Black History Month, we share a powerful blog post from our President, Dr Lade Smith CBE. In the post, she discusses racism in psychiatry, its impact on patients, what progress the College and others have made and what more needs to be done.
Previous BHM events and activities
In 2024, the theme was Reclaiming Narratives and we had a particular focus on Being Visible – highlighting the contribution of some of our Black psychiatrists, the experiences of people using mental health services and celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black people to society.
Podcast: Dr Naa Adoley Addo's Psychiatric Journey from Ghana to the NHS
In this conversation, Dr Naa Adoley Addo shared her journey from psychiatric training in Ghana to her practice in the NHS.
She discussed the rigorous training she underwent, the challenges and rewards of working in the UK, and the cultural differences she encounters in mental health care.
Naa also reflected on her achievements as a psychiatrist, the balance between her career and motherhood, and the importance of cultural diversity in the psychiatric field.
Blog post: Reclaiming a positive narrative about Black people navigating mental health services
Read this powerful blog from Dr Uju Ugochukwu, Consultant Psychiatrist, considering how we reclaim a positive narrative about Black people navigating mental health services and our role, both individually and collectively, in improving equity of access, experience, and outcomes.
Dr Ugochukwu is a hugely talented female psychiatrist with extensive experience in leadership and research. She is a fellow of the College and trained Quality Improvement Coach and leading the AMHE aimed at improving access, experience and outcomes for Black men and refugees and asylum seekers.
Free Members' Webinar: ‘I See You’ – Leading Cultural Change in Healthcare
This webinar was held on Thursday 10 October in partnership with the Association of Black Psychiatrists (ABP-UK). It was chaired by Dr Tim Ojo, general adult psychiatrist and former Associate Registrar (2017-2022).
This discussion took us on a journey of navigating the healthcare system through the eyes of leaders both in and outside of the healthcare system, who are trying to bring about cultural change to better serve our patients and create a more enabling and inclusive space for our workforce.
Speakers
- Chair: Dr Tim Ojo, Consultant Psychiatrist, Coach, Leadership Mentor, Accredited mediator and Organisational Consultant
- Ashiedu Joel, NED and Councillor in Leicester
- Jennifer Izekor, Cultural Intelligence & Inclusive Leadership Trainer, CEO Above Difference Ltd
- Dr Buki Adeyemo, CEO of North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS FT
The College celebrated Black History Month 2023 by exploring the relationship between mental health and the arts.
Podcasts
Listen to an in-depth conversation between Oluwatunmise Oladapo Kuku, podcaster and life coach and Ms Praise Ogabi in which they shared stories of dealing with mental illness, as well as their relationship with using art as a form of therapy.
You can also hear about the extraordinary contributions of black female psychiatrists, in our podcast delving deep into the vital issues of racism and equity within the field of psychiatry. Host Dr Uju Ugochukwu was joined Dr Itai Matumbike and Dr Mona-Lisa Kwentoh sharing their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives.
Blog posts
Throughout Black History Month 2023 we published a number of blog posts:
- The arts and art therapy - not a cure-all but its benefits cannot be overlooked - by medical student Oluwamayomikun Ajayi
- Afrodepression: Towards another aesthetic for Black despair - by Dr Dami Ajayi, a writer and psychiatrist
- Inaugural Aggrey Burke Fellows: Daniel Olaniyan - we hear from one of the inaugural Aggrey Burke Fellows
- Another Inaugural Aggrey Burke Fellow, Isabelle Gallier-Birt, wrote about the intersection of mental health and the arts.
- Remembering the struggles, remembering the achievements - by the College's Chief Executive, Paul Rees.
Webinar
We also held a special free Black History Month webinar for members on 12 October on 'Improving mental health through creativity'. In the webinar (included below), Dr Chinwe Obinwa led a discussion with members of the Culture Club of the UK's .
They discussed how the arts has an important role in celebrating and representing Black culture and as a form of therapy, bringing benefits professionally and personally.
For Black History Month 2022, we heard from several doctors who talk about their journeys, achievements, influences and what makes them 'proud to be'. Watch their video interviews below:
Blog posts relating to Black History Month
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Black History Month 2024: Reclaiming a positive narrative about Black people navigating mental health services
Read this powerful blog from Dr Uju Ugochukwu, Consultant Psychiatrist, considering how we reclaim a positive narrative about Black people navigating mental health services and our role, both individually and ...
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Remembering the struggles, remembering the achievements
For Black History Month, we hear from the College's CEO Paul Rees, who reflects on the challenges he and others have faced with racism, and the inspiring success stories which ...
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Identity, culture, and belonging: bridging the gap between mental health and the arts
For Black History Month, we hear from Isballe Gallier-Birt Olaniyan - one of the inaugural recipients of the Aggrey Burke Fellowship scheme. She talks about the intersection of mental health ...
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Inaugural Aggrey Burke Fellows: Daniel Olaniyan
For Black History Month, we hear from Daniel Olaniyan - one of the inaugural recipients of the Aggrey Burke Fellowship scheme. He talks about his journey to becoming a medical ...
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Afrodepression: towards another aesthetic for Black despair
Dr Dami Ajayi, a writer and psychiatrist, has written our second blog post for Black History Month 2023. He talks about the sub-genre of Afrobeats music known as 'Afrodepression'.
Dr Dami Ajayi -
The arts and art therapy - not a cure-all but its benefits cannot be overlooked
For this year's Black History Month, we hear from medical student Oluwamayomikun Ajayi about the power of art as a therapy for mental health, and the use of arts in ...
Oluwamayomikun Ajayi -
Celebrating Black history month 2022 – Dr Mona-Lisa Kwentoh
As part of this year's Black History Month, Lisa Kwentoh reflects on how to define her contributions to both psychiatry and society.
Mona-Lisa Kwentoh -
Black History Month 2022 – Reflections from RCPsych Chief Executive Paul Rees
The College’s Chief Executive, Paul Rees, speaks about the shocking discrimination his father experienced in the 1960s and 1970s and what he thinks of society now.
Paul Rees MBE -
Black History Month 2022: reflections from Dr Oluwatomilola Olagunju
For this year's Black History Month, Dr Oluwatomilola Olagunju gives his thoughts on the necessity of a diverse workforce within psychiatry.
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Black History Month 2021: reflections from Dr Chinwe Obinwa
For Black History Month, we spoke to Dr Chinwe Obinwa, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. She spoke to us about her experience being black ...