Taraji P. Henson Hosting A New Mental Health Show: This Issue Is Near & Dear To My Heart

Taraji P. Henson Hosting A New Mental Health Show: This Issue Is Near & Dear To My Heart

With controversial presidential elections around the corner, a re-spark of civil unrest and racial tension, all while in the middle of a global pandemic, Taraji P. Henson’s newest endeavor couldn’t come at a more prominent time.

Peace of Mind with Taraji, starring Taraji P. Henson and co-hosted by the actress’s longtime best friend Tracie Jade, will “shine a spotlight on the challenging mental health issues facing us today-particularly of those in the Black community,” as noted in the press release.  According to reports, the new show will be housed on Facebook Watch and new content will air multiple times throughout the week.

Taraji P. Henson

Each episode is said to feature interviews with celebrities, mental health experts, and everyday people to

“provide support, bring awareness, and help eliminate the stigmas of mental health issues.”

The subject of mental health has pushed its way to the forefront of topics, particularly amongst the Black community.  With celebrities such as Kanye West, Tamar Braxton, and even young adults like Deyjah Harris dealing with mental health issues, it has become a more widely accepted topic to face head-on.

In a statement, Taraji P. Henson addressed her upcoming show that will begin production later this year.  She said,

“I’ve long been a mental health advocate for the Black community and created the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018 that has provided resources to thousands of people who are struggling.”

The Empire star continued on,

“I’m looking forward to bringing this new talk series to Facebook Watch, where I can continue to create conversation around an issue that is near and dear to my heart.”

According to Mental Health America, of the 13.4% of the African-American population in the U.S., more than 16% of those reported having a mental illness in the past year.  Many cases go unreported and more importantly, untreated.

As for Taraji P. Henson, she began her nonprofit organization in honor of her father who also suffered from mental health issues stemming from his experiences in the Vietnam war.

Taraji P. Henson’s 2020 Instagram post offering virtual therapy sessions for Black men.

Do you believe this new show is something we need in the times we live in?  Let us know your thoughts below.