Working to prioritise and advance the representation and experiences of Black people in psychiatry and psychology.
Our network has closed.
After six impactful years, the BiPP Network closed in September 2025. Since our founding in 2019, we have hosted 11 events with over 1,600 attendees, partnered with leading organisations including the Wellcome Trust and NIHR, influenced more than 10 policies and initiatives, and built a thriving community of over 9,000 people. Leading BiPP has been an incredible journey, and although our activities are coming to an end, the legacy of this community will continue. Scroll down to read more about our work.
You can read our full closing announcement here.
ABOUT US
The BiPP Network provided a community for registered and prospective mental health professionals who self-identify as Black African or from the diaspora, Caribbean or mixed heritage to acquire social, emotional, psychological and developmental support.
It was founded in 2019 in response to the gross underrepresentation of Black professionals in psychological academic teaching and mental health practice.
We worked to advance the representation of Black people in psychiatry and psychology by hosting events and activities which addressed and tackled racial inequalities in the mental health profession.
We also provided advice, guidance and consultancy to organisations who wished to advance racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
Our Impact Report details BiPP’s work and outcomes from 2019 to 2023, providing a clear overview of our activities and the impact achieved since our inception.
To increase knowledge and awareness of accessing career pathways in psychiatry and psychology
To provide insight and guidance on equitable, inclusive, and decolonial practices in psychiatry and psychology
To promote and develop a community for Black students, practitioners, professionals and researchers
To provide psycho-education on Black people’s mental health and wellbeing
Dr Shubulade Smith CBE
President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
"To those wanting and needing to understand more about the Black perspective with respect to mental health and mental health services, BiPP is the place to start. Whether you are a professional or someone who might have to use services, BiPP provides an up-to-date understanding, using experts with a diverse range of experience, who are top of their game."
Dr Noreen Dera
Clinical Psychologist and Co-founder of Breaking Bad
"I had the pleasure of facilitating a reflective session for DClinPsy interviewees in March. I would highly recommend other organisations to collaborate with the fantastic work they are doing to advance the profile of Black people in psychiatry and psychology"
Dr Roberta Babb
Clinical Psychologist & Forensic Psychodynamic Psychotherapist
"The BiPP Network are a thoughtful and psychologically minded group of individuals who work hard to bring a wide range of timely, interesting and accessible learning events and reflective spaces to the African and Caribbean therapist community. It was a privilege to be invited by BiPP Network to deliver an event focused on Racial Trauma and Wellbeing, and working with them was a pleasure."
Our team
We began as a group of aspiring psychologists and researchers driven by a shared commitment to change the profession. Five years on, we are qualified mental health professionals, many holding doctorates in the field.
Find out more about our journeys here.
Keisha York
Founding Director
Dr Sarah Atayero
Partnerships Director
Dr Grace Mansah-Owusu
People and Culture Director
Deji Maxwell
Partnerships Director
Dr Ronald Dodzro
Research and Dissemination Director
Idriss Kamtcheu
Logistics and Events Director
Gabrielle Williams
Communications Manager
Chinwe Anyaorah
Communications Director
Previous events
Since our inception in September 2019, we have been successful in hosting several conference, training and online events which provide advice, share knowledge and empower Black aspiring psychologists from a range of disciplines.
These have included our inaugural event, mental health conference, reflective practice events, race in psychiatry and psychology lecture series, and in conversation with Black professors conference.
Our #NewFaceofPsychology campaign also hosted over 25 Twitter and Instagram live events with trainee clinical, educational, forensic, occupational, and counselling psychologists.
Read more about our previous events below.
Legacy Celebration
The BiPP Network’s final event brought the community together one last time to celebrate six years of collective impact and connection. Held at The Africa Centre, the evening reflected on BiPP’s journey, shared community testimonies, and honoured the work that shaped policy, practice, and professional pathways across mental health.
The celebration provided a relaxed space for mental health professionals and academics to reconnect, reflect, and mark the close of an important chapter together, while recognising the people and partnerships that made the network’s impact possible.
Professional Networking Event
The BiPP Network, in collaboration with Stolen Tools and King’s College London, hosted an in-person networking and panel event attended by over 100 Black practitioners, professionals, and researchers working across psychiatry and psychology.
The evening brought together attendees for panel discussions, social cafés, and fast-paced networking sessions focused on advancing Black communities within the mental health field. Participants exchanged ideas, explored diverse career pathways, and built meaningful professional connections in an open, informal setting designed to encourage collaboration, visibility, and collective strategising.
PhD studentship application workshops
In collaboration with LISS DTP and Queen Mary University of London, the BiPP Network Hosted a PhD Application Workshop aiming to equip individuals from racialised communities with practical skills for applying to PhD studentships in psychiatry and psychology. The event attendance included 52 virtual attendees.
Mental health conference 2022
A conference hosted by The BiPP Network to connect professionals, researchers, and service users and to discuss supporting mental health in racialised minority groups amid COVID-19. The event fostered discussions and networking opportunities among 58 mental health practitioners, researchers, and students.
Race in psychiatry and psychology: From research to transformative action
The virtual lecture series on ‘Race in psychiatry and psychology: From research to transformative action’ aimed to advocate for a decolonized approach to psychiatry and psychology, emphasizing the importance of discussing and researching race within these fields. The series attracted 242 attendees, consisting of both students and professionals, and included impactful presentations by notable speakers Hari Sewell, Dr. Dwight Turner, Dr. Shubulade Smith CBE, and Professor Binna Kandola OBE.
DEdPsy reflective practice
In collaboration with Trainee Educational Psychologists’ Initiative for Cultural Change (TEPICC), the BiPP Network hosted 3 virtual reflective practice sessions facilitated by trainee or qualified Educational Psychologists targeting Doctorate in Educational Psychology applicants from racially minoritized backgrounds scheduled for interviews between January and March 2021. The initiative aimed to foster connections among aspiring Educational Psychologists from racially minoritized backgrounds; to equip Doctorate in Educational Psychology applicants with the ability to reflect upon their clinical, research, professional, and personal experiences; and to provide a space for sharing strategies and techniques for managing interview anxiety.
In conversation with Black professors in mental health conference
The BiPP hosted virtual event, "KCL x BiPP In Conversation with Black Professors," aimed to illuminate the journeys and contributions of Black professors in psychology and behavioural sciences, as well as highlight their contributions to the field. Through a semi-structured Q&A session, the event sought to inspire Black students and professionals in the field to consider academic careers. Featured speakers were Professor Stephani Hatch and Professor Dawn Edge. The event attracted 229 virtual attendees and created an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and insight-sharing.
Roundtable discussion
Our virtual roundtable explored the barriers to academic careers in Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience for racialised minority groups.
Racial trauma and wellbeing event
The BiPP hosted "Racial Trauma and Wellbeing" virtual event, provided a platform dedicated to supporting and standing in solidarity with prospective and registered mental health practitioners of Black African and Caribbean origin, descent, or heritage. The event’s primary objectives were to raise awareness about the mental health impacts stemming from exposure to traumatic racial incidents, to engage in discussions regarding models, theories, and approaches to race-based trauma (or racial trauma). The event was facilitated by Dr. Roberta Babb and Dr. Deanne Bell.
DClinPsy reflective practice
The BiPP Network hosted an online initiative that aims to create a supportive environment for Doctorate in Clinical Psychology applicants from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, fostering reflection on clinical, research, professional, and personal aspects. One of the first events of its kind, the initiative also offers a platform for sharing interview anxiety management tips and techniques, while connecting aspiring Clinical Psychologists from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Race, racism, and mental health: Diverse models and approaches in psychiatry and psychology
The "Mini Masters Programme on Race, Racism and Mental Health: Diverse Models and Approaches to Psychiatry & Psychology'' was hosted by the BiPP Network in collaboration with the Centre of Pan African Thought, hosted at King's College London. Delivered across six sessions, this masterclass series was led by four highly experienced and esteemed voices in the mental health field: Dr. Shubulade Smith, Malcolm Phillips, Rameri Makoum, and Hari Sewell. The programme attracted 108 attendees of both students and professionals within the field of psychology and psychiatry.
Addressing men's mental health
The BiPP Network hosted ‘Addressing Men’s Mental Health’ event aimed to comprehensively address the experiences and help-seeking behaviours of men from racially minoritized backgrounds in the context of mental health. The panellists included male professionals in psychiatry and psychology and lived experience users.
Inaugural event
The BiPP Network hosted ‘Addressing Men’s Mental Health’ event aimed to comprehensively address the experiences and help-seeking behaviours of men from racially minoritized backgrounds in the context of mental health. The panellists included male professionals in psychiatry and psychology and lived experience users.
Psycholojist with Dej
A podcast where psychology meets curiosity. Join Deji, our Partnerships Director, as he sits down with therapists, psychologists, and thinkers to dissect the mind, challenge the mainstream, and decode human behaviour. Whether you're a layperson or a lifelong psych nerd, expect theory, debate, and bold new ideas. This is psychoeducation for the people — because understanding the mind just might help us reshape the world.
You can watch or listen to all our episodes on Youtube, Instagram, Spotify and TikTok.
Blogs
The BiPP Network published over 20 blogs, generating more than 10,000 views across topics including mental health and wellbeing, racism, research, events, and access to careers in psychiatry and psychology.
Click here to read our blogs and explore what our community has achieved.
The BiPP Network is committed to providing valuable resources and support to our community. However, it is important to note that we are not a mental health crisis service or therapy provider. Any resources that we provide are for general information only.