UF Health St. Johns will host St. Augustine’s BRAVE Summit on Wednesday, March 25, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from 3 to 7 p.m. The free event is open to all Florida high school students
UF Health St. Johns will host St. Augustine’s BRAVE Summit on Wednesday, March 25, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from 3 to 7 p.m.
The free event is open to all Florida high school students.
The annual summit, now in its sixth year, is the centerpiece event for BRAVE, a program designed for teenagers to remove the stigma associated with mental health. Founded in 2019, BRAVE, an acronym for Be Resilient and Voice Emotions, creates a safe, welcoming environment where teens can openly discuss mental health, connect with their peers and support professionals and learn practical tools to foster mental wellness.
Guest speakers, artists and content creators will align students with resources and activities like poetry and art as coping strategies for difficult situations. Students will enjoy food, prizes, giveaways, a photo booth, interactive games and more.
Sam Demma, the bestselling author of “Empty Your Backpack” and “Be Someone’s Taco,” will serve as keynote speaker. Touting messages of resilience, empathy and leadership, the TEDx presentation coach is known for encouraging students to prioritize kindness, courage and mental well-being.
Grammy Award-winning artist Daya, popular for her double-platinum debut single “Hide Away,” will also be on board to share her powerful story of growth and self-discovery, spotlighting themes of creative freedom, resilience and embracing authenticity — messages that resonate deeply with today’s youth.
With more than 2,000 students in attendance last year, organizers are aiming to make an even greater difference in the lives of young people in 2026.
IMPACT, a nonprofit initiative focused on building partnerships, strengthening resources and advancing awareness to maintain safe environments where children can thrive, described the BRAVE Summit of 2026 as a community of collaboration designed to change lives.
“Bringing students, educators and health professionals together helps normalize conversations around mental health and connects young people to the support they need,” said Dr. Brennan Asplen, superintendent of the St. Johns County School District and president of the board of directors of IMPACT. “At IMPACT, our mission is rooted in advocating for children today so they can build stronger futures, and initiatives like this play a critical role in that effort.”
Since its founding in 2019, BRAVE has already made significant progress in connecting high school teens to mental health resources.
According to a new release, before BRAVE’s implementation in St. Johns County Schools, only 35% of students who were referred to mental health providers were seen by a medical professional. Since the onset of the BRAVE program, that rate has increased to 90%.
“Since its founding and despite the pandemic, BRAVE has expanded into 10 school districts across the state, with the ability to assist nearly 300,000 students,” the release said.
Students can earn four hours of community service as determined by their school. Students are required to have a valid high school ID and ticket.
UF Health St. Johns will host St. Augustine’s BRAVE Summit on Wednesday, March 25, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from 3 to 7 p.m. The free event is open to all Florida high school students
For more information, go to https://www.theamp.com/events/detail/brave-summit-2026.
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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