Taraji P. Henson opens up about being a mental health activist.
In an interview with ELLE for their December/January 2023 issue of Women in Hollywood, Henson, who stars in the upcoming Purple movie, she said being an actress led her to discover her passion for mental health.
“Acting put me on a platform and I always thought I was touching lives through acting, but this foundation is actually saving lives,” Henson, 53, said. ELLE. “I’m grateful that acting has led me to a greater purpose in life.”
The actress explained to the paper that when she was looking for a therapist to help her get over her father’s death, she couldn’t find anyone who looked like her. “I couldn’t find them—it was like looking for a unicorn,” she said. This led her to found the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which works to destigmatize mental health in the black community.
Through the foundation — named after her father — she offers free therapy, a scholarship fund for black therapists and “wellness pods” at places like historically black colleges and universities.
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Taraji P. Henson says she took a trip to Bali after losing her ‘sense of joy’
ELLE 2023 Women in Hollywood cover by Taraji P. Henson.
Adrienne Raquel
In April, Henson shared an update on her mental health journey in an appearance on Sherri. In the show, she explained that she traveled to Bali out of necessity.
“I’ve been doing this for about 20 years. I’m working, grinding, whatever you want to call it. I come in for a breath of air and hit a brick wall,” she said.
“If you let fear take hold of you, it will let you believe in it. I overcame my fear, I went, [and] I did dry the whole way. Eat, pray, love. Because leaving alone made me stay present. I got to talk to these wonderful people I met, and we’re still in touch,” she continued.
Taraji P. Henson on Fighting the Stigma of Mental Health Issues: ‘It’s OK to Not Be OK’
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Taraji P. Henson in ELLE’s Women in Hollywood 2023 Issue.
Adrienne Raquel
The actress previously told PEOPLE in June 2019 that she talks to her therapist twice a week. In person, if he is in town, and if not, he chooses Skype or Facetime.
“I can call her any time I have a moment and she’s there,” Henson said. “I’ve been blessed enough to find someone I really hang out with. She gets me.”
She continued: “We don’t talk about mental health, we don’t deal with it. For generations, we’ve been told that weakness is to remove your problems with prayers – and that simply won’t solve the problem.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the text crisis line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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Source: HIS Education