Mental Health Awareness Month: Expanding Access and Strengthening Hope in Central Florida
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time to elevate conversations that too often happen in silence and to recognize the role each of us can play in building a healthier, more supportive community.
Across Central Florida, the need is clear. More young people are experiencing anxiety and depression. More families are navigating mental health challenges without access to affordable care. Too many individuals delay treatment until they are in crisis.
Philanthropy plays an important role in closing these gaps. It allows us to act quickly, invest where needs are greatest, and support both immediate care and long-term solutions. This month, Central Florida Foundation is proud to highlight two recent grants that reflect that approach by advancing access to care and early intervention across our region.
Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in Seminole County
For individuals without insurance, accessing mental health services can be difficult, if not impossible. The Mental Health Association of Central Florida’s Sanford Outlook Clinic is working to change that.
The clinic provides no-cost mental and behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults. Through a $25,000 grant from the Adam, Geraldine, and John W. Eisenhauer Fund at Central Florida Foundation, we are supporting access to psychiatric medications for uninsured adults as part of the clinic’s expansion.
For many individuals, the cost of medication is the barrier that stands between crisis and stability. This investment helps ensure that more residents in Seminole County can access the medications they need to manage their mental health, stay safe, participate in a productive civic life, and move toward healing.
Reaching Young People Before Mental Health Crisis Begins
Access to clinical care is essential. Prevention and early intervention are equally important, especially for young people.
That is why we also awarded a $20,000 grant from the Adam, Geraldine, and John W. Eisenhauer Fund at Central Florida Foundation to NAMI Greater Orlando to expand two evidence-based youth programs: NAMI Ending the Silence and NAMI on Campus.
Ending the Silence is a 50-minute presentation delivered in schools and youth settings. It helps students recognize early warning signs, understand how to seek help, and hear directly from a young adult who has experienced recovery. These conversations reduce stigma and give students the confidence to speak up for themselves or for a friend.
A high school student’s testimonial:
Thank you for coming to my school and sharing your story. You have changed my life forever. The things you explained about your depression relate to how I feel. When I got home, I immediately talked to my parents, and hopefully, I will get some help.
Through this grant, NAMI will deliver 20 presentations, reaching more than 2,000 youth across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Brevard Counties.
At the same time, NAMI on Campus builds student-led mental health clubs in high schools and colleges. These clubs create peer support networks, lead awareness initiatives, and foster environments where mental health conversations are normalized.
Together, these programs extend beyond classrooms into community centers, after-school programs, and youth organizations, reaching young people wherever they are.
A Continuum of Care Powered by Philanthropy
These two investments reflect a broader vision for mental health in Central Florida.
The Sanford Outlook Clinic provides direct clinical care that helps individuals stabilize and heal. NAMI’s youth programs focus on education, awareness, and peer leadership so young people can recognize challenges early and seek help.
Together, they form a continuum of care that is essential to a thriving community.
This is where philanthropy makes a meaningful difference. It supports both treatment and prevention. It reduces stigma. It helps build systems of care that reach people earlier and more effectively.
“A strong community is one where care is accessible, stigma is reduced, and every individual has the opportunity to heal. These grants represent a dual approach to solving complex issues: meeting urgent needs while advancing long-term solutions across Central Florida.”
— Mark Brewer, CAP®, President/CEO, Central Florida Foundation
Moving Forward Together
Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that progress depends on all of us.
At Central Florida Foundation, this work is made possible by our fundholders and the philanthropic legacies we steward. Their generosity, vision, and commitment to this community power investments like these that expand access to care, strengthen early intervention, and create lasting change.
Every grant reflects a deeper story. It represents a legacy of giving that prioritizes dignity, health, and opportunity for our neighbors. It is how philanthropy moves from intention to impact.
If you are looking to make a difference in Central Florida, we are here to help you do it with purpose. Central Florida Foundation is home to individuals, families, and organizations who want their giving to be thoughtful, strategic, and enduring.
Together, we can build a community where care is accessible, hope is within reach, and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Together, we’re building community by building philanthropy.
