Nonprofit Provides Mental Health Tools to Black Girls

The initiative has delivered over 3,000 care packages to help youth manage anxiety and depression.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Teens

Nonprofit Provides Mental Health Tools to Black Girls

Live Poll

Are small-scale community projects effective at providing meaningful mental health support to local youth?

In January 2024, Mila Henry launched MH Boxes, a nonprofit initiative providing mental health support to Black girls across the United States. The organization has since distributed 3,303 care packages through local schools and community health providers.

Why it matters

The project addresses systemic barriers and stigma that often prevent Black girls from accessing necessary mental health resources. By providing tools for emotional regulation, the initiative aims to increase visibility for youth mental health needs.

This initiative reports the delivery of 3,303 care packages across 17 states and Washington, DC, since January 2024. The project operates as a grassroots outreach model, though the effectiveness of these resources on clinical mental health outcomes remains unmeasured.

The players

Mila Henry

Founder of MH Boxes and recipient of the Young Humanitarian Award who creates resources for youth mental health.

Pete & Thomas Foundation

A philanthropic organization established in 2022 that funds community-based wellness projects.

Southern Black Girls & Women's Consortium

A grant-making entity that provides resources to improve outcomes for Black women and girls in the southern United States.

The details

The MH Boxes project delivers resources like journals and fidget toys to provide immediate grounding tools for managing anxiety and depression. These packages are distributed through a network of mental health providers and schools, creating a localized bridge to professional support. The organization was scaled using a $550 microgrant from the Pete & Thomas Foundation and the Southern Black Girls & Women's Consortium, which supported 100 young women in total during the 2024 program year.

January 2024: Mila Henry launched the MH Boxes project.
May 2024: Mila Henry had delivered over 500 care packages.
July 2025: Mila Henry had delivered 1,600 care packages.

Health Landscape

This effort follows the growing trend of community-led initiatives supported by the Southern Black Girls & Women's Consortium's youth microgrant program. It marks a shift toward grassroots, non-clinical interventions that prioritize accessible tools for emotional health in youth populations.

If you or a student you know is struggling with symptoms of anxiety or depression, these community-based resources can serve as a first step toward finding support. It is worth discussing your mental health needs with a school counselor or primary care physician to identify further professional care options.

The takeaway

Accessing early mental health support is a critical component of long-term wellness for young people. Recognize that fidget toys and journaling are tools for self-regulation, not replacements for professional clinical support when symptoms are persistent.