Thank You Ms. Henson
Taraji P Henson is a Golden Globe winning Hollywood star. With a role on FOX’s hit TV show Empire, in movies like Hidden Figures, and the voice of Ethel in Ice Age, she has truly made a name for herself. But recently she’s taken to another role, mental health advocate. Not too long ago she passionately testified, in front of congress, about the plight of our American youth as it pertains to their mental health. Social media has given us more insight into the local news, and like Taraji, I too have been distressed reading about the many stories of grade “schoolers” deciding to end their lives. It is both heart breaking and gut wrenching.
As she’s expressed: As a country we can NOT be okay with our future leaders ending their lives before the age of ten. That can NEVER be okay. But Ms. Henson just isn’t talking, she is working to provide solutions. She’s opened the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation whose motto is “Break the silence, Break the cycle.” For many of us depression and anxiety is familiar, not from our own experiences but the those of our families. We only know about it because of what we’ve secretly seen and “spying-ly” heard, not because of what we’ve openly discussed and worked to get through together. This silence, this cycle, has crippled individuals, families, cultures, and in some ways our country. Somewhere we turned mood disorders, like depression and anxiety, into “craziness” which perpetuated an embarrassed silence that is only slightly being broken today.
I dare not get caught up on the “only slightly,” I choose to focus on the fact that silence is being broken. Her foundation will offer support to America’s urban neighborhood schools. For many kids living in these areas, they need the option to speak with someone about their struggles. The hardships that come with growing up in these communities, needs an outlet. Imagine what this will mean to the parents of these students, their children will have another advocate working on their behalf. In addition to support for children in urban neighborhoods, the foundation will offer scholarships to students that choose study in the filed of mental health.
““We’re letting them know that they are worthy, and that they matter in a world that’s telling them they don’t right now,” ”
Now This! This is what grabbed me. When looking for solutions, we have to work the issue and prepare for the future. This means adequately supporting the mental healthy community with professionals that understand their patients. Taraji speaks candidly on the importance of having culturally knowledgeable professionals that can relate to their patients. By providing scholarships she will be a addressing the lack of cultural representation in the mental health field. The impact of these two acts will go a long way in breaking the silence and the cycle.
I’m writing this because I think we should know about those working in the mental health field fighting for their own healing and the healing of others. For those of who are having a hard time, know there are people working with you in mind. I wanted to highlight someone who put “skin in the game.”
Thank you Ms. Henson for your voice and even more, your advocacy.
#thoughtlifeco
