Incoming Cal Psychology Professor Jasmin Brooks Stephens was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her achievements in healthcare. Stephens conducted the first known study that revealed discrimination was associated with the development of suicide capability — one’s ability to act on suicidal thoughts or intentions — among Black adults.
As an undergraduate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stephens explored the relationship between race and mental health within Black communities, inspiring her to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Since then, she has published over 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts on the sociocultural risk and protective factors that influence the psychological trajectories of Black youth and young adults.
She will be joining Berkeley Social Sciences in the summer as a psychology professor and is looking forward to teaching, mentoring, conducting research, and developing a Youth Advisory Board to incorporate insights from Black Americans with lived experience of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Berkeley Social Sciences spoke to Prof. Stephens about her background, research and achievements. This interview has been edited for clarity.
Please tell me about your background and what sparked your interest in psychology.
Jasmin Brooks Stephens: I grew up in a small town in South Carolina where everyone around me looked like me. It may sound cliché, but whether I was at the grocery store, my school or church, I was surrounded by people with various shades of Brown and Black skin. That sense of familiarity changed when I moved to Atlanta at the age of 10. Within months, I started asking my mom to straighten my hair because I believed it was “prettier.” Peers questioned whether I was adopted because of my light-skinned mother, and, for the first time, race became the most salient part of my identity.
Years later, during my undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill, I enrolled in a course called African American Psychology. This class explored the intersection of race, culture and psychological well-being within Black communities. It not only helped me make sense of my own childhood experiences but also revealed the broader societal patterns affecting Black communities. This course also allowed me to discover an entire field of study that is dedicated to understanding how race, racism and culture influence the mental health of Black individuals, which solidified my passion to pursue clinical psychology.
Could you share more about your research and its impact?
Jasmin Brooks Stephens: What factors contribute to the promotion of a life that Black Americans desire to live? On the other hand, how does racism confer an increased risk to the health and well-being of Black Americans? How is it that Black Americans thrive psychologically despite disproportionate exposure to racial discrimination, poverty and inadequate community resources? Broadly, my research amplifies the voices of Black Americans to better understand the answers to these, and similar questions to ultimately create pathways to thriving for Black adolescents and emerging adults.
To date, my research has focused on examining the unique sociocultural risk and protective factors shaping the mental health trajectories of Black youth and emerging adults. My work identifies mechanisms to reduce suicide risk and racial trauma while fostering meaning in life and future orientation. My long-term goal is to translate these findings into the development and implementation of novel interventions, policies and programming to eradicate suicide and mental health disparities within Black communities.
What do you consider your most important discovery in your research so far?
Jasmin Brooks Stephens: One of the most significant discoveries in my research has been identifying how discrimination contributes to suicide risk among Black Americans. In a study that was awarded the Morton M. Silverman Paper of the Year Award by Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, I found that discrimination was associated with the development of capability for suicide among Black adults. This was the first known study to examine whether a painful and provocative experience for marginalized communities—discrimination—could contribute to the capability for suicide, the key factor that differentiates those who think about suicide from those who die by suicide. These findings underscore the urgent need to address discrimination-related stressors as a critical component of suicide prevention efforts for Black communities.
You were named Forbes 30 under 30—what does this accomplishment mean to you?
Jasmin Brooks Stephens: To me, this accomplishment is for my community. It’s for the young Black girl who wonders if her dreams are too big, for those of us who have felt like we’ve had to work twice as hard to get half as far, and for anyone who has questioned whether they will earn a seat at the table.
This recognition is not just a personal milestone—it’s a reminder of the work still ahead. It represents the foundation of a career dedicated to eradicating suicide among Black children and young adults, ensuring that future generations not only survive but thrive.
What’s one lesson that helped you achieve this milestone?
Jasmin Brooks Stephens: One of my favorite quotes is from Harriet Tubman: “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Throughout my time in academia, people have questioned my research interests, suggested that I should wait until I was more senior to apply for certain fellowships or opportunities, and, at times, imposter syndrome felt commonplace. But this quote was one of the many reminders that have kept me grounded in my passion for transforming the mental health of Black communities through research, teaching and clinical practice. It reinforced the importance of believing in the impact of my work and pursuing— or even creating— opportunities rather than waiting for permission.
As an incoming professor, how do you feel about joining Cal?
Jasmin Brooks Stephens: I am excited to join the Cal family! I look forward to establishing my research lab—a space dedicated to community-driven research aimed at addressing suicide and racial trauma in Black communities. I will also establish a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) within my research lab at UC Berkeley to incorporate insights from Black Americans with lived experience of suicidal ideation and behaviors. The YAB will serve as a critical infrastructure for informing qualitative and quantitative research methods and advancing innovative, technology-driven approaches to reducing suicide risk in real-time on a larger scale.
Also, as someone whose passion for psychology was sparked by an undergraduate course and shaped by incredible mentorship, I look forward to teaching, mentoring, and training the next generation of mental health professionals. Creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful, hands-on research and learning will be a core part of my work, and I can’t wait to contribute to Cal’s dynamic academic community.