Diane Guerrero of Orange is the New Black fame has launched her own podcast around mental health!
Continue reading “Diane Guerrero Launches New Mental Health Podcast ‘Yeah No, I’m Not Ok””Tag: mental health
HealHaus: A Safe Space for Black Men
Guest Writer: Alexis Janel
A highlight of my previous week was discovering HealHaus, a new holistic wellness studio for black men, now accessible in Brooklyn, NY. The studio has received notable recognition from Essence magazine and the New York Times to name a few. Founder Darian Hall, a Kappa Alpha Psi brother, had inspiration for this space after meeting his father for the first time. Additionally, men in his circle also have had similar concerns within the context of family relationships or marital relationships. So, Darian designed this safe space with Black brothers in mind.
These men are fathers, husbands, businessmen, and much more, but it still doesn’t take away from America discounting them as the minority and men. They are taught to be strong, yet anxiety and depression plague their daily lives. Darian recognized that it’s time to change this narrative. Jay-Z, a personal inspiration for Darian, once shared in a song lyric from his 4:44 album, “You can’t heal what you don’t reveal.” In other words, for Jay-Z, Darian, and black men period, the time is now to speak up about feelings and experiences that are affecting mental health. Healing takes time, but what better way to go through the process than with individuals that look like, talk like, and relate to you?
Currently, HealHaus offers psychotherapy, of which black practitioners can primarily reach black men. This is encouraging news, considering I don’t think there’s enough black representation in the mental health counseling field. Other available options include massage therapy and a wellness café with specialized smoothies and teas prepared by an on-staff chef and doctor. A goal in the works for this year is to bring HealHaus services to corporate offices, essentially for men that can’t easily access the site due to work agendas. A future goal is to open more sites in other areas, with D.C. being a target. If this plan is finalized, which I would love to see, I will share at a later date. So proud of you, Mr. Hall!
I end with this point: black men, pray for, check in on, and encourage other black men in schools, workplaces, churches, and even in passing. You cannot wholeheartedly commit to your job, school, relationship, or any other personal goal when pain is held in. You are no good to yourself or others this way. You matter. So, I urge you to put in effort to heal past and/or present wounds and live like you matter.
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Taraji P. Henson Launches New Foundation To Combat Mental Health Issues In The African-American Community
Taraji P. Henson is out here using her platform to make a difference, especially in the African-American community!
The actress has officially launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF). Named after Taraji’s father, the foundation’s goal is to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues among black people.
The BLHF recently held its first event in Beverly Hills, CA, giving guests a chance to shop from Taraji’s own closet. All of the money raised is going to the BLHF’s very first initiative, “A Little Piece of Heaven.” The initiative will bring art to inner city school bathrooms to help combat issues like depression, bullying, and suicide among African-American youth. Often times, violence and self-harm occur in spaces where adults are not present, like school bathrooms. The art will stand to remind kids that they are not alone in life.
Taraji is extremely proud of the work that the foundation has planned and even happier to get to honor her father in the process. “I named the organization after my father because of his complete and unconditional love for me; his unabashed, unashamed ability to tell the truth, even if it hurt; and his strength to push through his own battles with mental health issues,” she shared. “My dad fought in The Vietnam War for our country, returned broken, and received little to no physical and emotional support. I stand now in his absence, committed to offering support to African Americans who face trauma daily, simply because they are black.” Check out Taraji talk more about the foundation with The View below!
The BLHF also launched a Prizeo campaign that gives fans the chance to win a trip to meet Taraji P. Henson at the premiere of her upcoming movie, What Men Want. All donations will support the foundation’s work. You can enter on Prizeo’s website here. If you want to learn more about the foundation, visit the official site at www.blhensonfoundation.org.
I love some Taraji! For one, she’s from DC and went to school in my native area, Prince George’s County, Maryland. She’s also cares about the African-American community and it continues to show with the launch of this new foundation. Mental health is a very real problem, and it’s often swept under the rug in the black community. Often, we are raised to keep things to ourselves or within our family, holding in problems instead of seeking proper treatment. Over time, our people have started to realize the importance of asking for help when it comes to their mental health. I hope that Taraji’s foundation is able to help push that mission.
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Demi Lovato Will Provide Free Group Therapy On Her Upcoming Tour
Demi Lovato has been a great advocate in the mental health field over the years, using her platform to bring awareness to the importance of seeking help and stigmas surrounding the issue. Now the singer is using her own tour to continue her great work!
Demi announced on Good Morning America that her upcoming Tell Me You Love Me tour will feature group therapy and motivational speeches for attendees before the actual show FOR FREE. LA-based mental health and addiction treatment center CAST Centers will be facilitating the workshops on tour. Demi herself was once a patient there back in 2011, and now is a co-owner.
“It’s basically like a therapy session before the concerts, and we have speakers from all over and we’re also helping out with different charities from around the country,” she revealed about the workshops.
The singer provided something similar for her fans during her Future Now tour with Nick Jonas and it makes sense that she will continue to do so. Demi herself has gone through addiction along with an eating disorder and bipolar disorder, so she understands the importance of helping others who may be going through some of the same things.
“I think that it’s important for me to use my voice for more than just singing,” she added. “I just know how important it is to use my platform to help others and to share my story in hopes that it inspires people to either get into recovery or better themselves. Whatever it is, I just want people to know they’re not alone and I’m here for them.” Demi is really amazing for this!
The Tell Me You Love Me Tour kicks off Feb. 26 with DJ Khaled and Kehlani as Demi’s special guests. Hoping to see some great footage from these workshops!
Imperfectly B 