Human touch is essential for emotional well-being and mental health.

In this episode of the Straight Out of Health IT podcast, Ben Wilson, founder and CEO of the Color of Sound Foundation and leader of their Chronically Undertouched project, discusses "touch starvation" and its prevalence and impact within communities of color. Throughout this conversation, he explains his nonprofit's mission to address these issues through initiatives focused on racial healing, restorative justice, and economic development.

Ben elaborates on the Chronically Undertouched Project, which is rooted in anti-racist work but specifically aims to address the absence of non-sexual, tender touch among Black men. He describes how this phenomenon has historical roots in stereotypes that frame Black men as threatening, fostering a lack of physical closeness and tenderness even within the community itself. Ben shares that the project includes a short film titled Dark and Tender, which aims to engage viewers, especially Black men, in understanding and healing from the effects of touch deprivation.

Additionally, Ben talks about plans to leverage digital platforms to build awareness and engagement around the topic, including social media and virtual events. He emphasizes the need to normalize and research platonic touch within Black communities, describing it as an "ungoogleable" concept that he hopes to make more accessible and well-understood. Through this work, the Chronically Undertouched Project aspires not only to foster connections within Black communities but also to educate broader audiences on the structural and historical forces that contribute to touch deprivation, with the ultimate goal of bringing people together across backgrounds.

Tune in for a powerful conversation that uncovers the hidden impact of 'touch starvation' in communities of color, exploring how simple acts of tenderness can heal, connect, and transform lives!