Mental Health in Times of Racial Unrest (National Bar Association)

The National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is Proud to Host a Special installment of 3 Psychs and a Mic, Moderated by NBA YLD Member Amber Hendrick. 3 Psychs and a Mic is a podcast hosted by three Black, female psychologists who discuss a variety of topics through the lens of psychology in a way that is relatable and relevant to listeners.

Meet the psychologists and more behind the 3 Psychs and A Mic Podcast:

Moderator, Amber Hendrick, Esq.:
Amber Hendrick is an associate at the law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough located in the firm’s Columbia, South Carolina office.  She practices products liability litigation and commercial litigation, and also assists clients in dealing with consumer product safety and regulatory matters.  She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2013 and her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010.

Prior to joining the firm, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable J. Michelle Childs, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (2016) and the Honorable Margaret B. Seymour, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (2014-2015).  Prior to that, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Kendra Y. Ausby on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City in Maryland.  She is licensed to practice in South Carolina and Maryland.

On the Mic with Dr. Shari N. Dade:
Dr. Shari N. Dade is a licensed psychologist who focuses on the role mental health plays in whole-body wellness. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and enjoys working closely with resilience after trauma, depression, anxiety, and life transitions. Dr. Dade considers herself a small-town girl who is passionate about decreasing the stigma of mental wellness by providing psychoeducation and awareness to communities. With this passion she developed Everyday Psychology LLC, an organization that believes psychology can be valuable for everyday people and works better when it spans outside of four office walls. Here she serves as the key consultant and has serviced several community agencies spanning from coast to coast. By using her psychological expertise, Dr. Dade fosters wellness and healing by educating group and communities through workshops, psychoeducational talks, and mental wellness engagement. Her expertise and ability to connect with people across all walks of life has resulted in her work appearing on national platforms including The Free Times Newspaper, The State Newspaper,  BET.com, and ESSENCE Magazine.

On the Mic w/ Dr. Erica L. James:
Dr. Erica L. James has served as an educator, mentor, and public speaker. She is currently a Professor of Psychology and Clinical Program Coordinator at a small university in the southeastern region of the U.S. where she focuses on training graduate students to provide culturally-competent psychological assessment and teaching in the area of diversity and social justice. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia where she developed her focus in the areas of psychological distress among African Americans. Dr. James has a special interest in depression, anxiety, and the mental health service utilization/under-utilization among minority groups. She additionally spends time focusing on career development and providing mentorship for minority students interested in pursuing higher education.

On the Mic w/ Dr. April Scott:
Dr. April Scott currently serves as a healthcare administrator at a university with approximately 30,000 students. She is responsible for reducing the stigma of mental health conditions by promoting a positive mental health climate on campus. She is passionate about increasing awareness of mental health resources and training community members how to recognize and respond to mental health crises.
Dr. Scott has 10 years of instructional experience working special populations in higher education, such as student-athletes and first-generation college students. Dr. Scott has had experiences across multiple settings to include: a substance abuse outpatient facility for adults and adolescents, an in-home adoption therapy program, a community mental health center for children and families, a Veterans Affairs hospital, a group practice, and a university counseling center.
Dr. Scott uses her expertise as a therapist of eleven years and background in psychology to inform her work with students in a way that makes her programs, informative, interactive, and exciting. As a result, she is frequently invited to facilitate her unique workshops internationally and domestically.