Media often tends to focus on and center emaciated, thin, young white adolescents who are hospitalized due to medical complications of malnourishment when speaking on the topic of eating disorders. We don't often hear stories of Black girls with anorexia, Black men struggling with body image, Black families and the impact of these narrow stereotypes on limiting care and life-saving access to care. Today's episode was recorded almost half a year ago, but it still rings so important. Mimi talks with Dr. Erikka Dzirasa, MD about messages we received around mental health growing up and our work as Black healthcare providers in the eating disorder field.
*The title was tricky for me to think about, I wanted to capture how Black children experience eating disorders because the narrative is lacking. I also wanted to capture that little Black girls and Black men and non-binary and trans Black people experience eating disorders. Blackness and eating disorders aren't mutually exclusive. I landed on Black Young Girls because that is the experience I can speak to the most and we need more voices. And also, one podcast episode doesn't capture the whole Black experience of eating disorders, there is so much complexity. So just narrowing in on some aspects here. I've also since read the book, It's Always Been Ours by Jessica Wilson, MS, RD, which has been absolutely incredible, I highly recommend reading!
We talk about..
Black families and eating disorder care
Messages prominent in many Black families around mental health
The need for more representation within the field of eating disorder care
How stereotypes lead to lack of early diagnosis and are life-threatening
Dr. Dzirasa's leadership positions within Arise and Project HEAL, and the importance of diversity within organizations providing care
Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH, DFAACAP is a double-board certified Child and Adult Psychiatrist who brings more than 10 years of deep expertise in eating disorders and mental health since first seeking out specialized training while in Duke University's residency and fellowship programs. She previously served as the Medical Director of an Eating Disorders specialty hospital system, leading policy and program development to deliver high-quality, effective care in their intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), residential and inpatient units for people living with eating disorders. Erikka is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of Project HEAL, a leading eating disorder nonprofit breaking down systemic barriers and providing education and supportive resources to people of all identities and background experiencing eating disorders. She is a partner in Catalyst Therapeutic Services, a private practice in Durham, NC and a Consulting Associate at Duke University Medical Center. As a mental health advocate, she also serves on the Race, Ethnicity and Equity committee for the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, and is the immediate Past President of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Dzirasa earned her Bachelor of Science at Spelman College, Master of Public Health in Health Care and Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill, and her Doctor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. She is also a certified yoga instructor.
Find Dr. Dzirasa at:
IG: @dr.erikka
Arise: www.wearearise.com/about
Find Mimi at:
Main IG: @the.lovelybecoming
Podcast IG: @lovelybecomingpodcast
Website: www.mimi-cole.com