Sayida Peprah, PsyD, 

Dr. Sayida Peprah is both a licensed clinical psychologist and trained birth doula.  She specializes in multicultural psychology, trauma, suicide prevention and maternal mental health.  Dr. Sayida has a multi-faced career as a psychologist having worked in community-based, in-home, psychiatric hospital, correctional and private practice settings.  She is also a trainer and consultant on topics of cultural humility, implicit bias and trauma as they impact mental and maternal health.  

Dr. Sayida’s study and work strongly emphasize multicultural awareness and in an effort to further this, she has traveled to Ghana, Mexico, Egypt and India, studying mental health approaches, indigenous culture and local spiritual traditions.  Dr. Sayida is the Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Diversity Uplifts, Inc., through which she regularly offers cultural competency, mental health and maternal mental health trainings and consultations throughout the US.  In 2014, she was a featured speaker at the United Nations 65th NGO Conference on the topic of Mental Illness, An Invisible Disability.      

Dr. Sayida’s work in maternal health includes serving as a doula trainer/mentor and maternal mental health and cultural competency consultant for perinatal health programs in Southern California.  Dr. Sayida is also an active member of the Black Women Birthing Justice Collective and a Collaborator with the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, promoting research, education and community-based services to positively transform birthing experiences of black families.  Dr. Sayida has served and continues to serve on advisory committees to improve maternal health including the California Maternal Suicide Review Committee, Perinatal Equity Initiative Committees (San Bernardino and Riverside County, CA) and others aimed at identifying key risks and opportunities for quality improvement and prevention around disparities.