JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The City of Jacksonville is kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month with a new initiative. Mayor Donna Deegan launched three new programs to address the growing need for mental health resources across the First Coast.
“Mental health matters. It is just as important as physical health for a person's overall well being," Deegan explained.
The city will provide additional money for the United Way of Northeast Florida to bring on two more crisis managers. City leaders say the United Way's 988 call center has seen a 75 percent increase in calls since 2022.
"We are fortunate in Northeast Florida that the United Way does an excellent job of handling our 988 calls locally. In fact, they were able to deescalate 98.7% of the calls, 98.7%, which means that only 1.3% of all of the calls that come through will have to be Baker Acted or hospitalized," Dr. Sunil Joshi, the Chief Health Officer for the City of Jacksonville, explained.
The city will also give $430,000 to Angel Kids Pediatrics, which provides help and resources to kids and teens in the community. Mayor Deegan is also hoping to address education through a new program called Mental Health First Aid, where people can learn the signs of mental illness and how to respond.
Dr. Christine Cauffield, the CEO of LSF Health Systems, one of the largest networks of behavioral health providers in Florida, said people often do not know where to turn when they are struggling. She believes these new programs will make a difference in breaking down barriers to access to care.
"The more we can reach out to the public, let them know the services in our community are available right now, for anyone that is struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. It's very critical," Dr. Cauffield said.
For more information on the city's mental health initiatives and resources in the community, click here.
The city will also open up a call center on Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone can call in to speak with mental health professionals and get connected to resources; dial 904-516-2551. The city will share the number to call before phone lines open in the morning.