Facebook has announced several initiatives targeting mental and emotional health to connect more people around the world—and at the forefront is Taraji P. Henson.
According to FB’s Newsroom, the award-winning actress is set to host a new talk show on Facebook Watch titled (for now) “Peace of Mind with Taraji.” Co-hosted with Henson’s longtime best friend Tracie Jade Jenkins, who is the Executive Director of Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, the series will highlight mental health challenges the Black community faces every day.
“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,” Henson told Deadline. “I’m looking forward to bringing this new talk series to Facebook Watch, where I can continue to create a conversation around an issue that is near and dear to my heart.
In addition to resources and information through Henson’s personal relationship with mental health, personal interviews with celebrities, experts, and everyday people, she will help provide support, bring awareness and help eliminate the stigmas of mental health issues.
The Facebook Watch show is set to premiere later this year.
“The work Taraji has done in the mental health space is inspiring, and we’re thrilled to have her come to our platform to educate and entertain around this incredibly important topic,” said Mina Lefevre, Head of Development & Programing for Facebook Watch. “One of our strengths at Facebook Watch is building community and conversation around topics people care about, and we’re looking forward to taking this journey together.”
Along with Henson’s show, Facebook is rolling out new features across its app to connect users with mental health experts, professionals, and crisis services. Also, Facebook and The Aspen Institute will collaborate to conduct advanced research on emotional health to help us understand areas like healthy social connections, loneliness, and mental health.
