Post by Bruce Peterson

This reflection hits home. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, but Dr. Taft Parsons’ words are also a reminder that liberation includes mental health and the courage to name stigma, shame, trauma, and distrust in systems of care. In 2020, I studied Whiteness Learning w/ Bob Dunham. It changed how I think about listening, responsibility, and the work required to see what I had not been trained to see. The behavioral health angle matters deeply to me. Access is not enough if people do not feel safe, seen, respected, or understood when they reach for help. Reducing stigma starts with trust. And trust starts with listening differently.