Sunshine From Darkness event launches Mental Health Awareness Month

In an effort to support mental wellness and reduce the stigma of seeking help, and to launch Mental Health Awareness Month, Sunshine From Darkness – a nonprofit organization committed to championing mental health wellness through transformative programing, education, collaboration and advocacy – held the second annual “Step Into the Light Mental Health Summit.”

The event, which was free and open to the community, took place on May 3 at The Venue @ LEC (Harvest House/The Harvest Sarasota campus). Approximately 200 were in attendance.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), in 2022, it is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. – more than 59 million – live with a mental illness. Young adults ages 18-25 years had the highest prevalence, with over 36% experiencing some form of mental illness. And national data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the year 2021-2022 indicates that 1 in 7 children ages 3-17 had a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.

The Summit was designed to raise awareness, provide valuable resources, and foster meaningful conversations about mental health. The event covered a diverse range of mental health approaches and topics, including anxiety, depression, generational trauma, and more. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with community resources, learn about new coping skills and treatments, and connect with experts and peers in the mental health field.

“We created Step Into the Light to be an opportunity for clinicians, clients, parents, advocates, and anyone interested in mental health wellness to come together and access valuable resources and support,” said Sunshine From Darkness Executive Director Marlene Hauck. “By sharing knowledge and experiences, attendees were empowered to build a stronger and more supportive mental health community. We are grateful to our sponsors, partner organizations, speakers and all who attended this event!”

Keynote speaker was Dr. Jason S. Quintal, PhD, LCSW, who has spent over 25 years working with populations severely impacted by trauma. He discussed “Parenting Beyond Trauma: Healing ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and Unplugging Triggers in a Social Media World.”

Panel discussions included “Bridging Cultures and Therapy: Integrating Traditional Healing with Modern Mental Health Care,” “The Importance of Perinatal Mental Health and Building Collaborative & Coordinated Community Support,” “The Power of Now: Embracing Mental Health, Presence, and Mindfulness through Improvisation and Meditation,” and “Let’s Heal with Sound.”

Presenting sponsors were Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Grace Community Church, and Jeffrey Peterson.

In 2025, Sunshine From Darkness will focus on programs under two pillars: Blue Door Services – including its Youth Resiliency Program – which empowers youth and families with lessons in emotional literacy and mental health awareness to foster resilient coping strategies; and SFD’s mission-based commitment to funding impactful mental health research.

For more information about Sunshine From Darkness, visit sunshinefromdarkness.org.

About Sunshine From Darkness
Founded as a subsidiary of the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation, Sunshine from Darkness is dedicated to supporting mental health wellness through programming, education, collaboration, and advocacy, as well as fundraising for impactful research and effective community engagement. Sunshine From Darkness committed to creating a community where mental health challenges are met with understanding, support, and resilience. Its mission is to enhance and promote mental health wellness in our community. Visit sunshinefromdarkness.org.