The Full Informed Consent: The Unstated Legacy of Racism and White Supremacy in Child Mental Healthcare

Providers and health organizations alike encourage children and families to pursue mental healthcare as if it were universally healing. Amidst the pediatric mental health crisis–characterized by increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts–”access to quality mental healthcare” remains the prevailing discourse. But what if child psychiatry was not originated or designed to protect and serve your children’s best interests. What if it refused to acknowledge the unique harms facing your child? What if it carried unstated risks of harm that are not accounted for in these general recommendations to pursue it?