Right here Tomorrow’s mission, which opens in late 2021, is to rework lives by constructing a group the place psychological well being care is suitable and accessible. In different phrases, the stigma has been eradicated from their program.
In Florida, suicides have almost doubled over the previous 20 years. As well as, the charges in Duval and St. Johns counties are increased than the nationwide common.
It defies the logic that individuals with a medical situation can keep within the hospital for so long as mandatory, whereas these with a psychological dysfunction are restricted to 72 hours. From first-hand expertise, we are able to inform you that point isn’t sufficient and well timed follow-up care is solely not obtainable, which frequently proves disastrous.
Limitations to psychological well being care embody ready lists, insurance coverage points, and a nationwide scarcity of psychological well being practitioners. The Right here Tomorrow individuals can present same-day help, which is a response time that may make the distinction in success or failure. As well as, many providers are free.
However the important thing to the success of this group is the employees.
Providers are offered by extremely educated and licensed peer help professionals. Lots of them are individuals with “dwell expertise” who perceive what others are going by means of in disaster, as a result of they have been there themselves.
The typical price of serving one “buddy” for a yr is $1,695.44, with a median of over 400 calls acquired per week. Native hospitals quote the price of a affected person’s three-day keep at about $6,000.
This is Tomorrow is receiving grant help from a number of organizations, together with a three-year problem from J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver to match each present donated—as much as $2 million—by means of 2024.
If you’re a person or have a cherished one who wants assist, or produce other questions, go to HereTomorrow.org, or name or textual content (904) 372-9087. Stroll-in accepted at 910 Third St. in Neptune Seashore.
Richard and Kathleen Marquis, St. Augustine
Watch out for manipulative marketing campaign advertisements
A letter dated January 7 commented on an advert by Daniel Davis that did not even point out he was working for mayor. When considering abilities had been thought of vital in schooling, I taught a unit on promoting to gifted fifth graders. They’ve discovered that the majority advertisements present the facility of manipulation by means of content material or lack of content material, lighting, coloration, music and different strategies.
Marketing campaign promoting has barely begun right here, however we have already got stragglers. At one finish of the spectrum, we’ve the loving household man with the attractive spouse and kids. Advertisements like this are at all times brilliant and sunny with upbeat music. Sadly, their {qualifications} are sometimes low however they concentrate on making you be ok with the candidate.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum are advertisements meant to make you hate an opponent, typically used towards Leksha Burton and now LeAnna Cumber. With ominous music and darkish visuals, they remind me of serial killer film trailers. There may be often an intense crimson someplace, which gives coloration distinction but in addition signifies an apocalyptic situation that may ensue if this candidate is elected. In this kind of commercial, information are sometimes omitted or distorted to make the candidate one thing she or he isn’t.
Cumber’s declaration even makes her sound like a Democrat – however a Republican.
Up to now plainly each excessive instances come from a sure mayoral candidate. My letter doesn’t endorse any single candidate however is meant to remind us all to take inventory of the numerous advertisements we are going to see within the subsequent few months on TV, in our mailboxes, and elsewhere. Because the election approaches, I hope we’ll see advertisements that focus extra on {qualifications} and fewer on manipulation.
Rhoda T. London, Jacksonville
New guidelines for balloting by mail
All Duval County voters should now re-apply for mail-in ballots. Even when you’ve acquired mail-in ballots for the previous 10 years or extra, it’s essential to now adjust to a Florida Legislature’s determination requiring you to reapply after every normal election. In case you do now, you should have your ballots for 2 years.
You may apply simply on-line:
- Go to the Superintendent of Elections web site DuvalElections.com
- Select Vote by Mail, the third blue field from the left within the high row.
- When this display opens, select the second merchandise “Mail Vote Software Kind (Digital Poll Software)”.
- This brings up screens for coming into your figuring out info. Know that although it refers to your driver’s license quantity or the final 4 digits of your social account, you will want each.
- Be sure you choose “All Election” to get a poll for each election by means of November 2024.
You may also go to the election workplace supervisor and apply in particular person, however be sure to have your driver’s license, Florida ID, and Social Safety quantity with you. You might also contact the election workplace supervisor to file an utility by cellphone at (904) 255-8684 (255-VOTE). It’s also a good suggestion to examine the present voter registration standing.
Keep in mind that your vote is your voice and a worthwhile asset. Use it in each election.
Pat Wojciechowski, Jacksonville
Crime goes within the fallacious course
I hardly ever comply with the information anymore as a result of it usually hurts, saddens, and upsets me, however I noticed one thing within the paper on January eighth and needed to remark. Sadly, Jacksonville is notoriously infamous for having a “dying grip” (pun meant) on the title, “Florida’s Official Capital of Homicide,” and the residents appear very pleased with that.
The article talked about that Jacksonville had 163 murders in 2022, based on unofficial knowledge from the Instances-Union. The earlier yr noticed a major drop of about 27% in homicides with 129, after a surprising 177 instances in 2020.
Would not it make you choke with delight?
In accordance with Sheriff TK Waters, “We’re on course, although it could not really feel prefer it,”
How may a 26% improve be in the best course? Until you are speaking about holding onto the Homicide Capital match title, these usually are not good numbers.
Dale Vickery, Orange Park