JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For many people struggling with mental health challenges, the hardest step is simply speaking up. At a Jacksonville church, leaders are working to change that by bringing conversations about trauma, healing and emotional wellness out of the shadows and into the community.
Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a Mental Health Summit aimed at reducing stigma, raising awareness and connecting residents with support through both faith and community resources.
Organizers say the goal is to challenge long-standing beliefs that mental health struggles should be handled in silence or through prayer alone.
“As a Christian it’s okay to go to God in prayer, but it’s also great to find somebody to talk to about your struggles, pain and trauma you may have,” said Pastor Glenn Forman Jr. of Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
Forman said mental health challenges are often compounded by long-standing messages in faith communities that encourage people to handle struggles privately or solely through prayer.
“Growing up in the church often people say ‘Go pray about it,’” he said. “I really want to break down the walls that it’s okay, mental health is in the Bible. You see so many people struggle with their trauma and their pain. They went to God about it, but they also went many places trying to get help.”
He says those struggles often run much deeper than what others see on the surface, with unresolved trauma following people well into adulthood.
Mental health advocates say the stakes remain high. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults ages 15 to 34.
“Working in school system as well you see a lot of trauma, but in the church there are a lot of adults crying out for help, even as a grown person they still have that 12-year-old person inside of them,” Forman said.
Organizers say part of the challenge is not just stigma, but access—knowing where to turn and what resources are available.
Jacqueline Tyson, chairperson of the event, said many people still struggle with the idea of seeking professional help, but the roots of care in the community are familiar.
“Before therapy became an actual profession before social workers became a thing it was something called ‘good neighboring,’” Tyson said. “That simply meant people in the community like you and me on the regular day just checking on each other.”
She said that framing can help ease fears some may have about mental health care.
“So if someone hears the word therapist and they are afraid, I say think of it like a good neighbor, someone who can give you a hug when you need a hug or tell you it’s going to be okay when you are going through it.”
Tyson said stigma remains one of the biggest barriers, particularly in the Black community, where seeking help has sometimes been viewed as a sign of weakness.
But she said that perception is beginning to shift as conversations become more open and visible.
Organizers hope the summit continues to encourage residents to seek help without shame and to see support as part of both faith and community life.
The summit is from noon to 2:00 pm Saturday at Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Register online at:https://tinyurl.com/ZHMentalHealth
Resources
If you or anyone you know needs help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
Here is a list of mental health resources available in Florida.
UF Health St. Johns Behavioral Health Resource Center – open 24/7 with clinicians on staff and available to assist during a crisis. No appointment is needed.
EPIC Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 26+, dial 988, and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.
EPIC Access Support Center – Walk-in services for mental health at their North Campus, Northwest Campus, and Flagler Campus. If this service is needed, walk-in during hours or call (904) 495-7001.
Mobile Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 5-25 years old. Dial 988 or 911 and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.
Vinson Foundation – A support group for St. Johns, Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, and Orange Park, for families who lost someone to suicide.
St. Augustine Youth Services: 904-829-1770
Call 211 – Local experts are available 24/7 to help. Calls to 211 are confidential and can be anonymous.
Hope for Healing Florida – Hope for Healing navigates the many ways Floridians can access help for mental health and substance abuse
These resources can be accessed nationwide:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for help. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or someone you know.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources for issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
Veterans Crisis Line – Text 838255 or call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
Crisis Text Line – Text “Home” to 741741
Teen Line – Text “Teen” to 839863
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