JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Organizers say the goal is to challenge long-standing beliefs that mental health struggles should be handled in silence or through prayer alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a Christian it\u2019s okay to go to God in prayer, but it\u2019s also great to find somebody to talk to about your struggles, pain and trauma you may have,\u201d said Pastor Glenn Forman Jr. of Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up in the church often people say \u2018Go pray about it,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cI really want to break down the walls that it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says those struggles often run much deeper than what others see on the surface, with unresolved trauma following people well into adulthood.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking 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,\u201d Forman said.<\/p>\n
Organizers say part of the challenge is not just stigma, but access\u2014knowing where to turn and what resources are available.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore therapy became an actual profession before social workers became a thing it was something called \u2018good neighboring,\u2019\u201d Tyson said. \u201cThat simply meant people in the community like you and me on the regular day just checking on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that framing can help ease fears some may have about mental health care.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo 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\u2019s going to be okay when you are going through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But she said that perception is beginning to shift as conversations become more open and visible.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n