Reflections for Black History Month: Progress, Representation and Purpose

This Black History Month, our Principal Suicide Prevention Therapist, Claire LaRoc, shares her story and reflects on the significance of the month for her.

“Following on from my reflections for Black History Month last year, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on another year of personal and professional growth, and what this journey continues to mean to me.

As a mixed-race woman with a Black South American father and a White English mother, my heritage is an important part of who I am.  Growing up in Toxteth, Liverpool, I experienced first-hand how race and inequality can shape opportunities and experiences.  These experiences have stayed with me throughout my life and career, reinforcing the importance of representation, equality and ensuring that people feel seen, heard and valued.

Over the past eight years at James’ Place, I have progressed from working part-time as a Junior Suicide Prevention Therapist to my previous role as Senior Therapist and temporary Deputy Head of Centre in Liverpool. I am now proud to be taking the next step in my career following my promotion to Principal Therapist as part of the national James’ Place team. This progression means a great deal to me. It reflects years of dedication to suicide prevention, continued professional development and a commitment to supporting men experiencing suicidal crisis. It also reinforces my belief in the importance of creating opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to develop, progress and contribute their knowledge and experiences.

Alongside my professional development, I have continued my academic journey and am now beginning my dissertation as part of my MSc in Mental Health Psychology.  My research will explore perceived barriers to Global Majority Ethnic (GME) men accessing psychological support. This research is particularly important to me, both personally and professionally.  Having been born and raised in Toxteth, I understand the importance of local communities, representation and access to support.  With James’ Place’s flagship centre based in Toxteth, there is a particular significance in considering whether men from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds feel able to access the support they need.  However, this issue extends far beyond the community I grew up in.  I want to contribute to a wider understanding of the barriers these men may experience across different communities, helping inform how psychological support can become more accessible, inclusive and responsive to their needs.

Through my work in suicide prevention and as a practising therapist, I have become increasingly interested in understanding why some men may face barriers to seeking support.  These may include stigma, cultural expectations, previous experiences of services and whether support feels accessible, relevant and culturally responsive.  I hope my research will contribute to meaningful conversations about how we can reach men who might otherwise struggle to engage with psychological support. For me, this research is about more than completing a qualification.  It brings together my professional experience, academic interests and personal commitment to addressing inequalities in mental health support.

This Black History Month, I find myself reflecting less on how far I have come and more on what I can do with the opportunities I have been given.  My heritage and experiences have shaped the therapist and person I am today, and they continue to influence the work I feel passionate about. I, feel fortunate to be able to develop my career at James’ Place, take on new responsibilities as Principal Therapist, and pursue research that I hope will contribute to a better understanding of the barriers faced by Global Majority Ethnic men when accessing psychological support.

I am proud of my roots in Toxteth, proud of how far I have come, and grateful to be part of an organisation where I can continue to grow, contribute and make a difference. Together, we are not only supporting men experiencing suicidal crisis, but also working towards a future where access to support is more inclusive and equitable.”

Thank you, Claire, for sharing your story 💙