As a champion of mental health, actress Taraji P. Henson feels it’s necessary to speak up about her own battles.
On Wednesday (Dec. 23), Henson released the latest installment of her Facebook Watch series “Peace of Mind With Taraji .” During the episode, the What Men Want star reveals that she experienced a dark moment in which she contemplated suicide. Henson also admits to her guest Dr. LaShonda Green that she purchased a gun and considered ending her own life.
“During this pandemic, it’s been hard on all of us, and I had a moment,“ Henson told Green. “I had a dark moment. I was in a dark place. For a couple of days, I couldn’t get out of the bed, I didn’t care. That’s not me. Then, I started having thoughts about ending it. It happened two nights in a row.”
Over the years, Henson has gained notoriety for her work as an advocate for mental health treatment and therapy, especially within the Black community. In 2018, the seasoned actress launched The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) in honor of her father, Boris Lawrence Henson, who also suffered from mental health challenges after his tour of duty in the Vietnam War. The foundation’s goal is to end the negative stigma about getting help and make therapy more accessible in Black communities everywhere. Henson’s foundation has also raised funds for mental health resources during the pandemic.
While speaking about her battle, the “Empire” actress explains what happened when she opened up about her recent dark moment for the first time. Henson said she felt relieved when she told her friend about it.
“Finally,” the Hidden Figures star said, “I’m talking to one of my girlfriends and I knew, I was smart enough to say, ‘I have to say it.’ Because a part of me was ashamed. I was like, ‘I don’t want them to think I’m crazy. I don’t want them to obsess over me or think they gotta come and sit on me.’”
Watch Taraji P. Henson speak about her battle below.
Taraji reveals her shocking mental collapse as Dr. LaShonda Green breaks down mental breakdowns. Why do Black women in particular try to heal on their own, the toll that takes and tips to help.
Posted by Taraji P. Henson on Friday, December 18, 2020