Epistemic oppression and sites of resistance in mental health systems

Abstract

The epistemological foundation of Western psychiatric mental health service systems within North America was conceived within colonial and reductionist agendas that perpetuate systemic racism. This epistemological hegemony has been the primary hindrance for transformative social work and the achievement of social justice for racialized services recipients in mental health systems. One of colonialism’s most indispensable tools is epistemic oppression. While many organizations have focused on equity movements (i.e., Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) or Anti-Oppressive Practice) to address inequities and oppression, these initiatives have not been effective in challenging the power structures perpetuated by epistemic privilege. The pervasive question that has plagued my social work practice in mental health has been: can epistemic and social justice be realized in mainstream medicalized psychiatric-based systems that are designed to perpetuate existing power structures? This article will help address the complexity of this question through a critical analysis of the presence and impact of epistemic oppression in mental health, its harms, methods of resistance, the appropriation of EDI, and implications for social work practice.