For Immediate Release: November, 13, 2008
Contact: Janet M. Caldwell, jcaldwell@mmc.edu
DEPRESSION OFTEN IGNORED IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY: MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE PSYCHIATRY CHAIR TO PRESENT RESEARCH FINDINGS
(Nashville, TN) – Depression is a condition that is largely ignored in the African American community, according to findings from studies conducted by Meharry Medical College’s new Psychiatry Chair, Dr. Rahn Bailey. Dr. Bailey, a nationally recognized expert in forensic psychiatry and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, will present his findings during an open house at Meharry Medical College.
The Open House will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 4-6 PM at the Lloyd C. Elam Mental Health Center at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Bailey will talk about depression in the African American community and suggest ways to deal with it during the holidays and beyond. “Many people in the African American community suffer from depression and are not diagnosed,” says Dr. Bailey, “In addition to genetic factors, there are also environmental factors that cause depression, including the tough economic times in which we find ourselves.” He will also give an overview and introduce his plans for the future of the department.
Dr. Bailey is a dual board certified forensic psychiatrist. He completed his general psychiatric training at the University of Texas Medical School and his forensic psychiatric fellowship at Yale University. He served as tenure track professor on the medical faculty of Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He has clinical appointments at Tulane and Baylor Colleges of Medicine. He is a national forensic expert, who has testified and participated in both civil, racial discrimination, and criminal cases. Of particular note, he is a psychiatrist for the State of Texas, who conducts evaluations on Sexually Violent Predators (SVP). Dr. Bailey has been featured live on MSNBC Television, as well as on Cable Network News (CNN), and, on local TV/Radio discussing Psychiatric Treatment, the Insanity Defense and Violent Criminal Behaviors.
About Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College, a United Methodist Church affiliated school, is the nation’s largest private, independent, historically black academic health center dedicated solely to educating minority and other health professionals. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees, and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.
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