JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville launched a mental health initiative called “Mental Health Matters Jax” during a special ceremony Monday at City Hall.
And Jacksonville continued its efforts to save more lives with an outreach drive on Tuesday.
News4JAX was at a day-long phone bank hosted by our news partner WJCT. Callers found out about all of the resources available that provide help with mental illness and mental health challenges.
With mental health illnesses on the rise, Mayor Donna Deegan on Monday announced the launch of three programs that address different mental health challenges.
On average, Duval County has 13% more mental hospitalizations than the state average. And in the U.S., it’s estimated that more than one in five adults, roughly 58 million people, live with mental illness.
These are the three programs the city is launching:
“This training program gives community members the skills they need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance abuse problem or experiencing some other type of crisis,” Deegan said.
Watch the full announcement ceremony in the video below:
The announcement comes during Mental Health Awareness Month — a month dedicated to addressing the importance of mental health and wellness in people’s lives.
Jacksonville resident Ashley Pelote said she has friends suffering from mental illness and often they are not treated well.
“We need more centers out here for the people. They can always call a number, but it’s better to have a human being to talk to,” Pelote said. “There’s no centers in Jacksonville for the people, and that’s why a lot of people are losing their minds.”
Pelote said help should also be paired with empathy.
“Check on your strong friends. Even though they are smiling, they are hurting. Stop letting them be so strong by themselves and help them,” Pelote said.
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If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness or thinking of harming themselves, call 988 for immediate help.
In addition, there is a local program called Mental Health Offender Program (MHOP) to assist nonviolent misdemeanor offenders struggling with mental illness.
To learn more about Mental Health Matters Jax, visit this website.