Embracing Hope: Transforming Mental Health

At Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast), we know the importance of mental health as a vital part of an individual's overall healthcare. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness for suicide prevention and share messages of hope.

The Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a state-of-the-art treatment facility to support those in our region struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. They offer a collaborative team of mental health experts to ensure each patient has access to quality and compassionate care. Gulf Coast catalyzed the launch of a Youth Intensive Outpatient program to assist youth in connecting with one another and finding long-term recovery. At the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion, they work seamlessly across Sarasota Memorial Health Care System to offer real-time behavioral health support to patients across our region. They also collaborate with Sarasota County Schools, NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties, and others to ensure youth connect with appropriate services.

NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties (NAMI) is a peer-based mental health organization, their staff and volunteers have lived-experience with a mental health condition themselves or through their family members or as caregivers. NAMI believes mental health support is a needed and critical part of recovery. The peer support from NAMI shows clients they are not alone in their mental health experiences.

“Suicide continues to be the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. Our focus is education and outreach designed to offer tools and practical information to ensure individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help,” said NAMI’s Executive Director Colleen Thayer.

A 16-year-old girl came to NAMI seeking support. She was in foster care and had been through 57 group homes. She was paired with Kelly, a young adult peer specialist at NAMI. Through their work together the girl opened up and has made tremendous progress. Kelly shared, “She had been dealing with criminal charges, placement issues, anger management, and major self-harm. She is now out of her charges, potentially has someone who wants to take her in, is managing her emotions extremely well, and has been free from self-harm for two months.” Kelly also shared that this client has earned her GED and is making plans for her future, a goal she had been wanting to achieve for years.

Just like the teenage client at NAMI learned, mental health care is just as critical as physical health care. However, there is still a delay (an average of 11 years) between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatments. Access to care is also challenging as there are not enough providers and services to meet the demand. “Like other chronic health conditions, the earlier you can intervene and treat a mental health diagnosis, the more transformational those services become with better outcomes and long-term recovery and wellness,” said Thayer.

Together, Gulf Coast and NAMI are working to provide opportunities for all in supportive mental health care services. “The support from Gulf Coast Community Foundation over the last several years has transformed NAMI and grown and innovated our programming. We have brought on new peer team members to meet the needs of individuals living with mental health conditions, their families, and caregivers, and continue to offer our programs free of charge,” Thayer expressed.

A Journey, Not A Destination

Joel Ehrenpreis is founder/executive producer of the nonprofit Lifeline Productions that produced “Clowns Like Me,” a deeply personal and universally resonant one-man show starring his son Scott Ehrenpreis. In the play Scott shares his story of living with mental illness. The show had great success in Sarasota and more recently in an off-Broadway production in New York City. “Clowns Like Me” fearlessly confronts the challenges of living with autism spectrum disorder, OCD, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, and depression to shatter the stigma around mental illness. “Gulf Coast has been a champion organization for Lifeline Productions. They allowed us to build a nonprofit focused on mental health awareness," said Ehrenpreis. The Foundation has supported Lifeline Productions by sponsoring their performances and providing a grant that will allow college students to see the show through the Cross College Alliance, a transformative project that Gulf Coast fostered.

For Joel and the Ehrenpreis family, every day is an opportunity to shine light on mental health awareness and the importance of support services. “We use this month (Suicide Prevention Awareness Month) to shift public perception, reduce the stigma, and spread hope and share stories of people who have survived, offering vital information to people who are affected by the thought of taking their life." “Clowns Like Me” reveals stories about the resiliency of the human spirit and provides hope, healing, and comfort for those living with mental illness, their families, and the entire community.

The last four words in “Clowns Like Me” are “You are not alone,” a touching reminder for anyone experiencing mental health struggles.

You can make a difference by co-investing with Gulf Coast in transforming mental health services for our region. Our Philanthropy Team stands ready to serve you in supporting a hopeful, brighter tomorrow, today.

Crisis Resources from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

• If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.
• If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
• You can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK

• Know the Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Suicide

• Being Prepared for a Crisis

• Read NAMI’s guide, “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis”

• What You Need to Know About Youth Suicide

Local Mental Health Care Resources:

• Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion at Sarasota Memorial Hospital: 941-917-7760

• Resilient Retreat’s Kind Line (not a crisis line): 941-343-0039
• Behavioral Health Mobile Response Team (run through Lightshare): 941-364-9355
• NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties’ peer support and resource navigation