NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – Mental health and suicide remain critical issues for veterans and first responders across the country.
According to a recent Department of Veterans Affairs report, nearly 6,400 veterans died by suicide in 2023.
Florida has historically ranked among the states with the highest veteran suicide rates — with 550 reported veteran suicides in 2023 alone, including 38 in Duval County.
As home to one of the nation’s largest military communities, Jacksonville’s need for local mental health resources is especially urgent.
And local nonprofit “Here Tomorrow” is stepping up to fill that gap.
Stigma-free support
“Here Tomorrow,” a Neptune Beach-based nonprofit focused on suicide prevention, recently launched a program specifically designed to serve military members and first responders struggling with mental health — free from stigma and with full confidentiality guaranteed.
Brannon Hicks, a retired police sergeant, SWAT team leader and the nonprofit’s Military and First Responder Program Manager, says the day-to-day experiences of service members and first responders take a quiet but serious toll.
“We see other people dying, we see other people injured, we see other people in situations they just can’t get out of,” Hicks said.
He says the damage often builds slowly and beneath the surface.
“It’s not that there are very large traumas that take place that directly impact us — it’s that there are smaller traumas that happen vicariously,” Hicks said.
Reluctance to seek help
One of the biggest barriers preventing veterans and active-duty service members from seeking mental health care is the fear of professional consequences.
Hicks says his program was built with that reality in mind.
“We made it crystal clear we serve the individual for the betterment of the branch,” Hicks said. “One of the stigmas around reaching out for mental health support is that when they do, it impacts their careers. Sometimes they can’t deploy, sometimes they lose clearances.”
The Here Tomorrow program serves both veterans and active-duty service members and guarantees full confidentiality — allowing participants to seek help without risking their careers or security clearances.
Amplifying veteran voices
Hicks recently launched a podcast called “Clearing the Mind Field,” which spotlights veterans and first responders who have faced challenges in their careers and found paths to healing.
New episodes are released weekly, each featuring a new guest speaking on topics related to mental health.
“It’s important that we have military and first responders on staff, on the team, who’ve walked the same sands and swam the same waters,” Hicks said.
The podcast is available on major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Hicks says his ultimate goal is simple: Make sure everyone has access to mental health resources before it’s too late.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit Here Tomorrow’s website at heretomorrow.org or call the suicide and crisis hotline at 988.
Resources
Here is a list of mental health resources available in Florida.
- 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