By Cherranda Smith
May 21, 2021
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Within the Black community, awareness about mental health struggles have been raised higher in some of our collective consciousness, but the work to do more is endless. That workload becomes more clear when we think about our shared and individual trauma, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the systemic inequities that prevent adequate access to healthcare, too.
To chip in, these Black celebrities have served through charity work, launching their own foundations, and amplifying expert and advocate voices in mental health. Some have even opened up about their own mental health healing journeys, helping to remove stigma and normalize getting help within the Black community.
Taraji P Henson opens up on new campaign centered on Black students mental health go.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from go.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Taraji P. Henson launches mental health program to help Black children
Taraji P. Henson (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Bang Media)
In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, actress Taraji P. Henson has launched a campaign to help Black students deal with mental health struggles and racial bias at school.
The
Hidden Figures star told
People that she developed The Unspoken Curriculum to help Black students recognize signs of trauma and give them the tools to speak up and seek help.
The program spans six weeks and began Monday, May 17 and will run through June 21. The program includes discussions with mental health specialists and virtual hangout spaces managed by therapists and teachers. Students can use the outlet to speak out about their mental health and racial experiences that they’ve endured in school.
The Unspoken Curriculum is a six-week program that Henson, who once worked as a substitute teacher, designed to help Black children identify racial bias at school and speak openly about mental health