Mental health services in South Florida need lawmakers’ support | Opinion

Growing up in Pompano Beach, I had a relatively stable childhood, but life’s challenges eventually led me down a difficult path.

Surrounded by a community struggling with drug addiction and personal turmoil, I found myself trapped in a cycle of pain, using drugs to cope with my mental health issues.

Over time, I became isolated, losing connections with loved ones and sinking deeper into what I now refer to as my “mental health world.” It felt like there was no way out and I feared I would never escape the grip of addiction and mental illness.

Then I discovered Foot Print to Success Clubhouse, a nonprofit that helps adults with severe mental illnesses by teaching social and job skills to help us become active members of our community with its new location in Pembroke Pines.

At first, I doubted the Clubhouse could make a difference for me, but the warmth and support I received there changed everything. The Clubhouse became my lifeline, offering the tools I needed to reclaim my life, something I once thought was out of reach.

Today, I am free from addiction, actively helping others navigate the court system and working toward expunging my record. For the first time, I feel hopeful and my family is proud of who I’m becoming.

Organizations like Foot Print to Success are making a significant impact in our communities like ours by providing a solution to the mental health crisis. But they can’t do it alone.

They need financial support from the public sector to continue their work and expand their reach, bringing life-changing services to even more people across the state.

With Florida legislators hard at work in Tallahassee, it is essential for our elected officials to invest in mental health care. Funding programs for adults with serious mental illness is not just the right thing to do; it’s a smart investment for Florida’s future.

For example, Foot Print to Success provides a non-competitive environment where individuals like me can rebuild our confidence and acquire the skills needed for a better future. Through programs like computer literacy, culinary arts and job readiness training, the Clubhouse helped me rediscover my potential — a journey shared by many members.

When members are ready to enter the workforce, Foot Print to Success trains and helps place them in jobs that align with their strengths and skills, offering ongoing support at the job site.

In these positions, members earn wages paid by their employer, gaining valuable experience in managing personal finances. This structured employment builds vocational skills and gives us the confidence to pursue full-time opportunities.

Recognizing that stable housing is crucial for recovery, Foot Print to Success partners with affordable housing developers to provide apartments for some members. This holistic approach addresses the interconnected issues of mental health, employment and housing.

Despite such transformative work, Florida faces a severe mental health crisis, with inadequate public sector support.

According to Mental Health America, Florida ranks 46th in the nation and Mental Health America reports that nearly three million adults in Florida experience mental illness and without proper care, many end up incarcerated.

Now is the time for lawmakers to act. Increasing funding for mental health services is an investment in Florida’s future.

For Florida lawmakers, investing in mental health care is an opportunity to show that this is not a partisan issue — it’s a human one.

Rose Williams is a mother and grandmother. To support her children, Williams worked in construction and cleaned apartments. In later years, Williams has worked at a mental health clinic.