Thriving Mind Mourns Loss of Local Mental Health Advocate

Thriving Mind South Florida’s President CEO, John W. Newcomer, M.D., would like to express his deepest condolences on behalf of our Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff to Mr. Publio M. Santana’s family and friends.

Mr. Santana died last week. He was one of the very first employees of Fellowship House, a Thriving Mind provider and an original Thriving Mind Board Member.

Read more here.

As told to the Miami Herald

Youth Board Member Shares Mental Health Journey

Mecca McCain remembers being as young as 11 when she first began cutting herself with a steak knife hidden in her bedroom.

The University of Miami junior remembers experiencing drastic mood swings, feeling sad, anxious and losing interest in activities, including her passion for fashion. She was one of a “handful of Black students at a predominately white, elite private school” in Washington and was not doing well in school. And, sometimes, she had suicidal thoughts.



“I wasn’t able to take care of myself, I had a really hard time, even getting out of bed to go to school in the morning, maintaining friendships. It was just a very, like, dark period for me,” said McCain, now 21. “And again, I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t know what to do. So, I kind of just kept everything to myself.”

Read more here.