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Tag: famous mental health advocates

  • Sophie Turner Praises Move To Give Students Mental Health Days In School

    Sophie Turner Praises Move To Give Students Mental Health Days In School

    Turner recently shared a story about a group of high schoolers who helped pass a state law to allow mental health days in school.

    Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones is an outspoken advocate for mental health, and she’s one of many celebrities who has come forward in the public eye about her personal mental health struggles.

    Turner recently took a break from social media after marrying Joe Jonas, but logged on to share a story about teen advocates pushing for mental health days in schools, and how their efforts have passed a new law in Oregon.

    New Law

    A group of four Oregon high schoolers helped pass a law that will allow students to take mental health days when needed. (When Turner retweeted the story, she topped it off with high-five emojis.)

    One of the advocates, Hailey Hardcastle, told Today, “I took on this cause for a personal reason first off because so many of my close friends in high school struggled with depression, and there were times when I saw them at school when they really shouldn’t have been there, would have been much better for them to take a day off.”

    This new law will take effect this fall. Students will be allowed to take five mental health days every three months as needed.

    This is a clearly a major milestone for mental health treatment. Hardcastle continued, “We were inspired by Parkland in the sense that it showed us that young people can totally change the political conversation. Just like those movements, this bill is something completely coming from the youth.”

    Lately more attention is being given to the mental health needs of Americans. As a recent report revealed, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 in the U.S.

    Turner recently appeared on Dr. Phil (Turner is a big fan of the TV therapist) and revealed that she is living with depression, and that it sometimes robs her of any motivation to get out of the house or do anything.

    She also recently talked about the importance of self-care to Marie Claire Australia. “Everyone needs a therapist… I think it’s necessary to have someone to talk to, and to help you through that.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Taraji Henson Takes Her Mental Health Advocacy To Capitol Hill

    Taraji Henson Takes Her Mental Health Advocacy To Capitol Hill

    The Academy Award-nominated actress says the lack of discussion and confrontation around mental health is dangerous. 

    On Friday (June 7), actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson spent time on Capitol Hill speaking to members of the Black Caucus and encouraging them to join in the conversation about mental health. 

    Henson, the founder of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and Empire star, tells People that the lack of discussion and confrontation around mental health is dangerous. 

    “The suicide rate has taken off,” Henson told People. “It amazes me that 5-year-olds are contemplating suicide. That’s a word you shouldn’t even understand at five years old.”

    Henson added, “We don’t talk about mental health, we don’t deal with it. For generations, we’ve been told it’s a weakness, to pray our problems away—and that’s just not gonna cut it.”

    On Friday, Henson also spent time talking to reporters and interacting with guests at a benefit dinner held prior to a conference called “Can We Talk,” which focused on mental health in the black community. 

    “I felt that if a face or a personality you could trust would come forward to say, ‘Hey, you know, I suffered too—that would make others feel safe. I’ve had a few friends call me and say, ‘Bravo, thank you so much, you have no idea what I go through,’” she told People.

    Henson says that she supports the idea of mental health being taught in schools. That way children are aware of it, but parents would also be encouraged to discuss it with their children more often.  

    “If we can teach children about sex education and physical education, why not mental?” she said. “That’s where we start attacking this issue: with the children.”

    Earlier this year, Henson opened up about her own struggles with depression and anxiety, as well as the mental health challenges facing the black community. 

    Henson began her own foundation in memory of her father, who struggled with PTSD and manic depression. Her father died in 2005, shortly after the father of her son was murdered in Washington, D.C. It was then that Henson began to search for a therapist. 

    “It was like looking for a purple unicorn with a 24-karat-gold horn,” she tells People. “I say that jokingly, but it’s serious. The reason why we don’t have many psychiatrists of color, or psychologists of color, or therapists of color, is because we don’t talk about it at home.”

    Henson says she now talks to her therapist about twice a week, sometimes with her fiancé. 

    “I want people to know it’s okay,” Henson said. “I don’t know what human is not suffering from some sort of anxiety or depression.”

    In the end, it’s OK to struggle, Henson says. She encourages people to reach out and ask for help. 

    “It’s okay not to be okay,” she said. “Just talk about it.”

    View the original article at thefix.com