This lecture, given by Dr. Munyi Shea of Yale University, is held by the Solidarity Hub at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo, and also made possible by the Fulbright Commission.
The lecture will be held on Tuesday, 24 March, at 11:00, in Forsamlingssalen, on Floor 2 of the Psychology building.
The United States often describes itself as a nation of opportunity: a pluralistic society in which individuals from diverse cultural and immigrant backgrounds pursue education, mobility, and belonging. Yet opportunity is not realized through individual effort alone; it is shaped by whether people feel safe and dignified in asking for help.
Grounded in two decades of research, this lecture examines the cultural, emotional, and structural forces that shape mental health help-seeking among immigrant and historically underserved communities. It invites a cross-cultural conversation about how institutions can move from awareness to action in co-creating systems of care that honor identity and voice.
Informed by lived experience and institutional accountability, research can translate ideals of opportunity into practices that expand access and belonging within shared educational and civic spaces.
Dr. Munyi Shea is a counseling psychologist whose work seeks to advance culturally informed mental health education, prevention, and intervention to address health disparities among historically underserved communities. Her research examines how culture and social context shape psychological distress, help-seeking behavior, and access to care, translating this research into prevention programs and interventions that promote accessibility and strengthen resilience across school and community settings. She is currently a faculty member at the Yale Child Study Center. Prior to joining Yale, she served as a professor of clinical psychology and counselor education and as Director of Doctoral Programs in Education at Seattle Pacific University.