The actress will also provide college scholarships via the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to benefit black students studying mental health issues.
- August 16, 2018
AceShowbiz - Actress Taraji P. Henson has created a new mental health awareness organisation to honour her late father.
The "Empire" star previously revealed her dad, Vietnam War veteran Boris Lawrence Henson, struggled with mental illness up until his death from cancer in 2006, aged 58, and she is dedicated to helping others tackle the problem through her own foundation, named after her parent.
"I named the organisation 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 says.
"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."
In addition to working to end the stigma surrounding mental health in the African-American community, she will also provide college scholarships via the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to benefit black students studying mental health issues, and offer support services to youths in urban schools, reports People.com.
The organisation will officially launch in September.
