Two Yale Department of Psychiatry faculty lead a support program that provides a healing space to Black first responders, health and mental healthcare workers, and the Black community at large.
Sawubona Virtual Healing Circles are being offered through a collaboration by the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH), Yale Department of Psychiatry, the Race Equity and Addiction Lab (REAL) at Yale, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). Two Yale faculty, Chyrell D. Bellamy, PhD, MSW, professor of psychiatry and director of PRCH, and Angela M. Haeny, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and director of the REAL at Yale, lead the program.
ABPsi created the Sawubona Healing Circles initially to support Black first responders and frontline healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing anti-Black racism. The healing circles have since been expanded to offer support broadly within the Black community. Sawubona is an ancient Zulu greeting which means, “We see you.” The healing circles utilize an Africentric model to provide a healing space for Black people.
The use of African terms and concepts can be especially beneficial for strengthening ethnic identity among Black people making the Sawubona Healing Circle a candidate as an adjunctive support for Black people seeking treatment for mental health or substance use challenges, the organizers say.
The groups have been meeting twice per week over the past year. The sessions start with an overview of the healing circle, and then participants engage in the African ritual of pouring libations to pay homage and connect to their ancestors. An African proverb is shared followed by an open discussion that teaches a healing strategy. The session closes by encouraging participants to engage in activities that activate love and healing.
The circles average 60 minutes per session but can range between 30 and 90 minutes depending on the needs of people in the sessions. Circle leaders are not required to be clinicians but must complete training before they lead a group.
According to circle leaders, participants have reported the healing circles as positive and affirming. Among the themes discussed include COVID-19 grief, loss, and coping; racial and political stress; cultural trauma and civil unrest; workplace stress, staying grounded and practicing self-care; elder health and caring for elderly relatives; finances; and maintaining hope.
The healing circles meet weekly on Mondays and Thursday at 6:30 pm and will run until May 31, 2023. Please click here to view a flyer with more information. To register please click here.