Matthew Batson

 
A photo of 2024 Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity Matthew Batson. He is a man with beard and medium length curly black hair. It's in styled in a bun with tendrils on either side of his face.

Director and Clinical Psychologist, Amethyst

Matthew Batson is a clinical psychologist and founder of Amethyst.

During his undergraduate studies, he founded a safe space program for LGBTQI students, where, together with university counsellors, people could freely discuss religion, sexuality, diversity, mental health and more. This experience sparked his interest in and passion for mental health.

In 2017, Matthew completed a master’s degree in clinical psychology and won the Queen's Young Leader award for his safe space work and other mental health projects.

Matthew's desire and passion to expand his knowledge of the ways that mental health work could support himself and those around him inspired him to join humanitarian efforts in his country. For four years, he has worked with the United Nations as a coordinator for child-friendly spaces. During this time, he has engaged with political leaders, donors, affected communities and children themselves, to better understand the context and challenges displaced children from Venezuela face.

Matthew has seen the impact of xenophobia and homophobia in his country, and their intertwining relationships with capitalism and colonialism. He is keen to explore how a transformation in mental health is not only required, but necessary to facilitate change at a societal level.

2024Atlantic Fellows for Racial EquityTrinidad and Tobago, Education and Youth Development, Human Rights