Susan Cousins

Susan Cousins MBACP (Snr.Accred) explores the impact of everyday racism on mental health and wellbeing. Susan works at Cardiff University as Senior Assurance Advisor, Race-Religion and Belief. She was the first BAME counsellor to be employed by the South Avon Health Authority to work with BAME clients in inner-city Bristol. She has extensive experience in both the NHS and Higher Education settings.

The aim of this book is to raise awareness of the impact of race-based discrimination on the wellbeing of BAME people. I hope BAME people can turn to these pages when they need encouragement and support to find their way back to the strength and resilience that they have earned. BAME wellbeing is not written about extensively and furthermore, BAME people need to be included in the wellbeing narrative and the wellbeing agenda. We cannot necessarily navigate life intuitively and so collectively we need to build ideas, create new knowledge based on our lived experience and from our own psychological perspectives.

This guide offers practical steps to overcome the negative impact of racism on mental health and offers steps to improve wellbeing. Each chapter of the book focusses on one category of wellbeing – self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, positive relations with others, environmental mastery and autonomy. It also includes case examples, spaces for reflection and practical, creative exercises.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by Cheryl Hill. None of this would have been possible without her keen insight into the areas of wellbeing, resilience and occupational therapy. I am extremely grateful for this collaboration and for our friendship.

To all at Jessica Kingsley Publishing always enthusiastic and innovative.