Newswise — The recent killings of Black-Americans by police officers and, the ensuing intense protests and attacks on law enforcement officers are all symptomatic of the collective trauma of racism, says Roxanne Donovan, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology and interdisciplinary studies at Kennesaw State University.

Donovan’s research into coping with racism and the relationship among identity, perceived discrimination and mental health has been published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, Journal of Black Psychology, and the Journal of Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, among others. She is a frequent commentator on Georgia Public Television’s “On Second Thought.”

“Empirical research, including my own, has demonstrated that experiences of racism stresses the body and mind, negatively impacting physical and mental health,”Donovan said. “Coping strategies can make a difference, but not all the ways people cope are beneficial. Some strategies lessen the impact while others worsen it, and people tend not to know which does what.”

Donovan is available to discuss the impact of racial trauma and how individuals and communities might cope with it. She is available at 470-578-6920 (o) or 860-712-1046 (c). E-mail her at [email protected].

Read more about Donovan at http://www.isd.hss.kennesaw.edu/faculty-staff/roxanne-donovan/