It’s a question that’s brought before us often: is technology use good for our mental health? The answer to that question is it depends. Technology often gets a bad rap but can play an essential and beneficial role in our lives.

The Federal Communications Commission will formally designate the number 9-8-8 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline next month. Currently, that number is reached by dialing 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so it is appropriate that our Positively Jax winner, Sheryl Johnson, and her organization, Hearts4Minds, are in the spotlight.

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp has teamed up with ‘Hearts 4 Minds’ and created a community mural focused on the importance of addressing mental health.

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Hearts 4 Minds, Inc. are excited to create positive change in crafting a community mural designed to bring the entire community of Jacksonville together. The mural is being sponsored by Baptist Health and will be unveiled at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 30 at 121 Financial Ballpark. Its theme touches on the importance of addressing mental health.

Local mother creates program to help teens, young adults battling mental health disease

Mom recognized gap in medical system when her son struggled with depression

The club also honored Tabitha Furyk, cofounder of the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation and the Rotary’s 2020 Rock of the Community award recipient. Due to the pandemic, the club was unable to hold its Mineral City Celebration and honor Furyk in 2020. However, the club still directed support toward Furyk’s charity of choice, Alex’s Dragonfly Coalition, which strives to destigmatize and raise awareness about mental health.

Baptist Health is working to get a mental health coordinator for kids and teens in Northeast Florida thanks to the help of the Jim Moran Foundation.

The Foundation has offered to match up to $750,000 dollars in donations to Alex’s Dragonfly Endowment.

Alex Newman died at 22 after a tortuous battle with anxiety and depression. His parents, Sheryl and Todd Johnson of Jacksonville, are now working with the Baptist Health Foundation to establish a behavioral health program to help other struggling youth and young adults.

Sheryl Johnson is on a mission to erase the stigma associated with mental illness after losing her son when he was only 22-years-old.