Reflections on Abolition in Practice  

by Usmaan Khan

What does abolition look like within mental health spaces? How do we channel abolitionist politics and approaches into building alternative solutions for mental wellbeing for our communities? These are the questions that we are exploring in our Abolition in Practice group. A space for Black people and People of Colour to come together and learn from abolitionist ideas and build them into their practice. 

Usmaan Khan (he/him) is a Lived-Experience Partner working to affect change across the healthcare system, challenging the structures which are inherently harmful and thus not conductive to promoting a holistic recovery. His passion has always been driven by his personal lived-experience and lifelong struggles with mental-health, neurodivergence and physical co-morbidities. He is embedded in several roles across multiple platforms yet feels not enough has changed. This is why they joined ‘Abolition in Practice’. We asked Usmaan to reflect on his experiences with the Abolition in Practice group. 

Why is the work of Abolition in Practice important? What is the purpose of it? 

These sessions are important as we can be in a space with other people who actually understand, where we don’t have to filter and dilute our ideas for a white audience. We move through the world in a system created by and for white western people and talking about that can be uncomfortable. We may have white friends or colleagues, and we may restrain ourselves because we don’t want to offend or upset. So, spaces like Abolition in Practice become so important. 

Structural and systemic racism is still a thing. We’ve had overt racism increasing. This proves that this work needs to continue, even when things seem quieter. There is a long legacy of colonialism, slavery, and exploitation – which was underpinned by racial supremacy. The work to address the consequences of that won’t be done in one particular project. These processes take time, with incremental changes leading to bigger results. Which is why [the work to dismantle racism] needs to continue, even during periods where things seem settled. 

What topics were discussed and how did you feel about these sessions? 

I joined two sessions, one about holding space for grief and the other about surviving and thriving. Both were useful in different ways, but the conversations were heavy at times. There was a shared sense of the heavy burden of responsibility that comes from structural inequality. Learning about the need for downtime and rest and the effects it has on our personal health created a real sense of shared responsibility.  

In the session about grief, we talked about the grief that we feel for the things that we have lost as People of Colour, and the grief we feel about the inequality that surrounds us. Those are important conversations but what I want to see more of is around the actions that we can take, the things that we can change, and how we can turn that grief and pain into purpose.

What learnings did you take from the Abolition in Practice sessions that you can apply to the healing work that you do? 

Racial injustice is a big driver of mental health issues and mental illness. But it’s never factored into mental health services. I feel like too much illness is placed on the shoulders of the individual, when these things are a reflection of the colonial, capitalistic, and individualist society that we live in. And that usually encompasses a level of blame on the individual, rather than lo when these things are a reflection of the colonial, capitalistic, and individualist society that we live in. And that usually encompasses a level of blame on the individual, rather than looking at the wider context and the multiple barriers that exist that prevent people from reaching their potential. Abolition marries all of that up and helps to recognise the connections that exist in all of this and how it all impacts racialised communities. 

I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how the structures and designs that people look to for support fail racialised communities. How systemic racism along with classism and other systems of oppression impact racialised communities, and I’m better able to communicate that invisible disparity. There was a conversation about rest, fatigue, and the responsibilities that we feel. There was a shared sense of solidarity in the room around the heaviness of it all, and that was powerful.  

Abolition in Practice group returns on the 10th of November, with the first session focusing on navigating conflict. You can sign up to attend here.