Perspectivas históricas y socio-política de la salud mental del Caribe

The story of the Caribbean region includes a legacy of eradication of indigenous populations, slave labor, and colonial hegemony that has shaped the economies, social structures, and cultures of each island/nation uniquely. This paper presents a brief historical and socio-political examination of the psychological impact of histories of subordination, in an effort to contextualize the experiences of the individuals in these islands, as they pertain to effectively addressing the region's mental health needs. The field of psychology holds promise for addressing legacies of colonialism on identity and subjectivity, particularly as an emphasis is placed on internal knowledge production. The 2011 Caribbean Regional Conference of Psychology is one such example of a movement towards unification and ownership of Caribbean Psychology perspectives, leaders, and the next generation of scholars.