NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – In a quiet building just steps from the ocean in Neptune Beach, hope lives behind an unassuming door.
This month’s Positively JAX winner, Here Tomorrow, is redefining suicide prevention in Northeast Florida by offering something many families say they couldn’t find when they needed it most: immediate, personal support at no cost and with no wait.
Born from loss — Built for others
Their message is simple: It’s OK not to be OK. It’s also OK to ask for help.
Here Tomorrow was founded by Joe Kenney after his adult son, Gary, died by suicide in 2019.
Kenney says that before Gary’s death, he did everything he could to help him through severe depression.
But when they needed guidance most, the system felt fragmented and confusing. He couldn’t find a clear path. He didn’t know where to turn.
On the day of his son’s funeral, Kenney made a decision: he would create the kind of place he wished had existed for his family — a place where people in crisis, and the families who love them, could walk in and immediately find help.
Different spproach to suicide prevention
When you walk into Here Tomorrow, it doesn’t feel clinical. There are plants, artwork, soft lighting and calming rooms.
“And just a calming environment,” said President and CEO Terrie Andrews, a former psychologist with Baptist Health. “When you walk in, it just feels relaxing. It really, really does.”
People who come through the doors aren’t called patients. They’re called “friends.”
Instead of emergency room visits or hospital admissions, trained and certified suicide prevention specialists — all with lived experience — sit down beside them.
“They really give people a sense of hope as well as making sure that they don’t feel alone,” Andrews said. “Oftentimes, people that struggle with suicidal ideations don’t feel connected. They feel like they’re a burden.”
Here Tomorrow offers:
- No-cost support — ever
- In-person, phone or video sessions
- Long-term support for up to a year
- Safety planning and crisis de-escalation
- Teen-specific services: Support groups throughout the week
“One of the amazing things about Here Tomorrow is we keep them out of the emergency room, and we keep them out of the hospital,” Andrews said. “When a friend comes in, they have a seat, and we work with them to de-escalate the situation and come up with a plan.”
The services are philanthropically supported. It costs about $3,500 to walk alongside one person for an entire year.
The power of lived experience
Every counselor at Here Tomorrow must be state-certified and at least two years into their own recovery journey.
That shared understanding makes a difference.
Savannah, a team member who struggled with her own mental health as a teenager, says she meets people exactly where they are.
“I just meet them where they’re at,” she said. “It’s scary to talk about these feelings. It’s OK to not be OK.”
One of the most meaningful symbols inside the building is a photograph gifted by a former teen participant after their recovery.
“A lot of it was like going on walks,” Savannah said. “It was a connecting piece for the teen and their mom.”
When asked what she sees in the image, she answered:
“The heart — love. I think that’s 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 — and then sharing it.”
For staff, that photo represents healing in motion.
Growing to meet a greater need
Here Tomorrow partners with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and United Way of Northeast Florida to serve people across the region.
Since opening, the organization has served approximately 4,000 individuals. About 1,000 of those were referred through 988 transfers.
Leadership says the need has grown far beyond what the founder originally imagined.
“The need is greater than he ever dreamt,” one team member said.
The nonprofit is already exploring ways to expand its reach beyond the beaches to serve more families across Northeast Florida.
Words that save lives
Throughout the building are handwritten messages left by visitors — affirmations meant for strangers.
“I wish everyone knew how much value and uniqueness they hold. You are loved and valuable.”
“Dear friend, be gentle with yourself. You’re on your own path and the world is better with you in it.”
Andrews says sometimes it’s something even simpler that makes the difference.
“When you’re thinking about someone you haven’t talked to in a while, reach out,” she said. “You never know what they’re going through. Anecdotally, what we hear is that call or that text saved my life.”
If you need help
If you or someone you know is struggling: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Contact Here Tomorrow directly for no-cost, confidential support.
You can also reach out to:
- UF Health St. Johns Behavioral Health Resource Center - open 24/7 with clinicians on staff and available to assist during a crisis. No appointment is needed.
- EPIC Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 26+, dial 988, and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.
- EPIC Access Support Center – Walk-in services for mental health at their North Campus, Northwest Campus, and Flagler Campus. If this service is needed, walk-in during hours or call (904) 495-7001.
- Mobile Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 5-25 years old. Dial 988 or 911 and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.
- Vinson Foundation - A support group for St. Johns, Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, and Orange Park, for families who lost someone to suicide.
- St. Augustine Youth Services: 904-829-1770
- Call 211 - Local experts are available 24/7 to help. Calls to 211 are confidential and can be anonymous.
- Hope for Healing Florida - Hope for Healing navigates the many ways Floridians can access help for mental health and substance abuse
These resources can be accessed nationwide:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call or text 988 for help. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or someone you know.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources for issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
- Veterans Crisis Line - Text 838255 or call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
- Crisis Text Line - Text “Home” to 741741
- Teen Line - Text “Teen” to 839863