Taraji P. Henson Invites Gabrielle Union for the First Episode of Her New Facebook Watch Mental Health Talk Show ‘Peace of Mind with Taraji’
Taraji P. Henson sat down with Gabrielle Union to discuss the signs and effects of PTSD in the powerful first episode of her new Facebook Watch mental health talk show Peace of Mind with Taraji.
Over the past few years, Henson has made it a priority to use her resources and platform to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community. Oftentimes, Black people sweep mental health issues under the rug, and they’re usually not encouraged to seek treatment.
In 2018, Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her late father who suffered from PTSD after serving in the Vietnam War. The foundation helps Black people find mental health services in their area in an attempt to motivate them to get professional help, and it offers support for young Black professionals looking to start a career in the mental health field.
Henson’s new show Peace of Mind with Taraji is just another way the actress hopes to provide open and honest discussions about Black mental health. Her first episode focused on PTSD and it featured actress Gabrielle Union who has suffered from the disorder since being raped at 19. Henson wanted to highlight that PTSD can come in many forms, and it’s not exclusive to those who served in the military.
I love the new show!! I’m sending you so much love, Gabrielle! I have PTSD too! Also, I love you Taraji! ❤️thanks for the focus on mental health!
— Tom Cramer (@TomCramer1) December 14, 2020
Union discussed the trauma and triggers she continues to deal with as a result of the rape and how she’s managed to cope throughout her lifetime, with her main source of healing coming from therapy. She also discussed how the pandemic and many instances of racial injustice in the news this year have only worsened her mental health along with many others in the Black community.
If yall aint watching Taraji P Henson Peace of Mind PLEASE DO!!!!! Once again bw stepping in to help this community you love to see it 😌
— 🙂 (@qveen_simbaa) December 14, 2020
The episode also featured another young woman who’s living with PTSD after being in an abusive relationship. Like many others, she wasn’t aware that she was exhibiting PTSD symptoms and behaviors until she decided to seek counseling.
I would like to promote Taraji P. Henson’s show “Peace of Mind” that will stream on Facebook Monday, 14 December. It deals with mental health issues in black people such as PTSD, depression. Issues that people have always been told to pray about it or talk to pastor.
— Reginald S. Bell (@ReginaldSBell) December 9, 2020
The show will feature several other celebrity guests including Mary J. Blige and next week’s guest Tamar Braxton along with mental health experts and regular civilians who want to share their experiences dealing with mental illness. Fans are loving that Henson is helping to shed light on mental health and trauma in the Black community, and they’re hoping the show will help others have healthy conversations about these important issues.
Taraji P. Henson’s Peace of Mind series is going to be revolutionary for the black community. We dont talk about mental health enough & we dont talk about signs outside of what’s told in textbooks. This is beautiful. We need this, especially during this pandemic.
— . (@TheMightyB00) December 14, 2020
The pandemic has only heightened some of the depression, anxiety and stress many of us were already feeling, and there’s no better time than now to begin talking about it. Be sure to stream the first episode of Peace of Mind with Taraji and catch all future episodes on Mondays and Wednesdays on Facebook Watch.
Writer | Tweet me @itsjadak
