Taraji P. Henson is utilizing her platform in hopes of bringing awareness to mental health.
Henson started the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, in honor of her late father who, after returning from the Vietnam War, fought mental illness. “I just hate to know people are suffering in silence when you really don’t have to,” Henson says.
In efforts for her voice to be heard, the actress went to Capital Hill to urge the members of the Black Caucus to join her in fighting to end the stigma behind mental illness and help get individuals the counseling they need.
“I’m only one voice. I need help,” Henson says. She is also fighting for mental health to be taught in schools.
“If we can teach children about sex education and physical education, why not mental?” she says. That’s where we start attacking the issue, with the children.”
The actress also opens up about her own struggle with depression and anxiety. Following the passing of her father, she found it difficult to find a therapist that she could relate with. Henson is pushing for more mental health counselors in the African-American community.
“People are afraid to be vulnerable because in our community it’s looked upon as being weakness,” Taraji says. “Hopefully, I lit some fires and I’ve gotten people’s awareness up about this crisis in the African-American community and mental health issues.”
On top of acting, the actress says she has found her purpose. “This is a passion for me, I’ve always been told to find my purpose in life, and I thought it was acting. But acting led me here. Acting gave me the platform and the mic to say something and be a difference, so I feel this is my purpose.”
Visit BorisLHensonFoundation.org to learn more
The Blog 