NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. \u2013 In a quiet building just steps from the ocean in Neptune Beach, hope lives behind an unassuming door.<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s Positively JAX winner, Here Tomorrow, is redefining suicide prevention in Northeast Florida by offering something many families say they couldn\u2019t find when they needed it most: immediate, personal support at no cost and with no wait.<\/p>\n
Born from loss \u2014 Built for others<\/p>\n
Their message is simple: It\u2019s OK not to be OK. It\u2019s also OK to ask for help. <\/p>\n
Here Tomorrow was founded by Joe Kenney after his adult son, Gary, died by suicide in 2019. <\/p>\n
Kenney says that before Gary\u2019s death, he did everything he could to help him through severe depression. <\/p>\n
But when they needed guidance most, the system felt fragmented and confusing. He couldn\u2019t find a clear path. He didn\u2019t know where to turn.<\/p>\n
On the day of his son\u2019s funeral, Kenney made a decision: he would create the kind of place he wished had existed for his family \u2014 a place where people in crisis, and the families who love them, could walk in and immediately find help.<\/p>\n
Different spproach to suicide prevention<\/p>\n
When you walk into Here Tomorrow, it doesn\u2019t feel clinical. There are plants, artwork, soft lighting and calming rooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd just a calming environment,\u201d said President and CEO Terrie Andrews, a former psychologist with Baptist Health. \u201cWhen you walk in, it just feels relaxing. It really, really does.\u201d<\/p>\n
People who come through the doors aren\u2019t called patients. They\u2019re called \u201cfriends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of emergency room visits or hospital admissions, trained and certified suicide prevention specialists \u2014 all with lived experience \u2014 sit down beside them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey really give people a sense of hope as well as making sure that they don\u2019t feel alone,\u201d Andrews said. \u201cOftentimes, people that struggle with suicidal ideations don\u2019t feel connected. They feel like they\u2019re a burden.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here Tomorrow offers:<\/p>\n
No-cost support \u2014 ever<\/p>\n
In-person, phone or video sessions<\/p>\n
Long-term support for up to a year<\/p>\n
Safety planning and crisis de-escalation<\/p>\n
Teen-specific services: Support groups throughout the week<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the amazing things about Here Tomorrow is we keep them out of the emergency room, and we keep them out of the hospital,\u201d Andrews said. \u201cWhen a friend comes in, they have a seat, and we work with them to de-escalate the situation and come up with a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
The services are philanthropically supported. It costs about $3,500 to walk alongside one person for an entire year.<\/p>\n
The power of lived experience<\/p>\n
Every counselor at Here Tomorrow must be state-certified and at least two years into their own recovery journey.<\/p>\n
That shared understanding makes a difference.<\/p>\n
Savannah, a team member who struggled with her own mental health as a teenager, says she meets people exactly where they are.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just meet them where they\u2019re at,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s scary to talk about these feelings. It\u2019s OK to not be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the most meaningful symbols inside the building is a photograph gifted by a former teen participant after their recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of it was like going on walks,\u201d Savannah said. \u201cIt was a connecting piece for the teen and their mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked what she sees in the image, she answered:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe heart \u2014 love. I think that\u2019s the root of a lot of it. Feeling love for yourself is a really big thing. And feeling that purpose. Photography became a self-love act \u2014 and then sharing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For staff, that photo represents healing in motion.<\/p>\n
Growing to meet a greater need<\/p>\n
Here Tomorrow partners with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and United Way of Northeast Florida to serve people across the region.<\/p>\n
Since opening, the organization has served approximately 4,000 individuals. About 1,000 of those were referred through 988 transfers.<\/p>\n
Leadership says the need has grown far beyond what the founder originally imagined.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe need is greater than he ever dreamt,\u201d one team member said.<\/p>\n
The nonprofit is already exploring ways to expand its reach beyond the beaches to serve more families across Northeast Florida.<\/p>\n
Words that save lives<\/p>\n
Throughout the building are handwritten messages left by visitors \u2014 affirmations meant for strangers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish everyone knew how much value and uniqueness they hold. You are loved and valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDear friend, be gentle with yourself. You\u2019re on your own path and the world is better with you in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrews says sometimes it\u2019s something even simpler that makes the difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re thinking about someone you haven\u2019t talked to in a while, reach out,\u201d she said. \u201cYou never know what they\u2019re going through. Anecdotally, what we hear is that call or that text saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you need help<\/p>\n