Terrance Harris, executive director and founder of Austin’s Second Chance, is working to fill a gap he saw in the community: support for men’s mental health. The nonprofit also offers classes as part of its mission to build a safer, healthier community.
“Our mission is to build and create a comprehensible, social and need-based network for young men to utilize within the local community to address mental health concerns,” Harris said.
Harris’s journey into men’s mental health advocacy began in high school, when his close friend Austin died.
“He was very close to a very dear friend of mine. And so his loss and his death affected me very deeply, which is why I started Austin’s Second Chance,” Harris said. “I started the charity in honor of him, in hopes not only to get his message out—to basically speak about how he died—but more or less to stop other people from hopefully finding that same way of ending.”
The organization is led by Harris alongside a dedicated board. Elizabeth Carter serves as president, Mary Compson as program director, Ariel Johnson as vice president, and Tony Davis is on the board.
“We have so many members on our board who are committed to growing this initiative here that I’m so happy and proud to see the work that they do,” Harris said.
Harris was raised by his single mother, Gladys Gravely, who inspired him to make positive changes in the world. As he pursued his master’s degree and moved through different stages of life, the idea for Austin’s Second Chance began to take shape.
“I finally decided to start writing the story about Austin’s life. I’m currently working on a script called “Color,” which is about a mother and father dealing with grief and all the problems that come with losing their only child from an accident to drug overdose,” Harris said.
Writing the film, he explained, became part of his own healing process.
“I’m doing the work for me to heal. How can I do the work for others to heal? How can I help others?” Harris said. “Shouldn’t you try to save the next set of Austins?”
Harris said he realized there were not many resources specifically directed toward men, particularly young men, who are struggling with mental illness.
“I looked and I researched, and I realized that in our community, there are not really many male-centric organizations that help with men, especially young men, dealing with their mental illness,” he said.
That realization helped shape the charity’s mission.
“We’re growing up in a community, in a world where we are now telling men that they should feel their emotions,” Harris said. “The charity is working to support mental health events for men to help equip the community with resources to better themselves.”
Harris said the organization wants men to know that help is available.
“If there is anyone out there who is struggling and dealing with suicidal thoughts or ideas, please reach out. Please reach out,” he said. “We will get you to the services. We will figure it out.”
Community members can learn more at www.austinssecondchance.com.
