Fifth Annual BRAVE Summit for teen mental health scheduled for March 26

The fifth annual BRAVE Summit, a vibrant event dedicated to dismantling the stigmas surrounding teen mental health, is set to take place on Wednesday, March 26 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Organized by UF Health St. Johns, the event is free and open to all high school students across Florida.

Attendees can enjoy free food and drinks, enter to win prizes and giveaways, pose in a photo booth, explore art and poetry displays, and play interactive games, among other activities. The Summit will feature performances by musical artist Paul Russel, along with inspiring presentations from prominent mental health advocates Emma Benoit and Charles Clark. Additionally, students from St. Johns County can earn four hours of community service for participating.

"Each year, it’s heartening to see the important work being done at the BRAVE Summit to create a welcoming and safe space for teens to discuss mental health,” said Kerry Watson, Interim CEO of UF Health St. Johns. “Creating a path for a generation that prioritizes mental health as a vital aspect of overall well-being supports our commitment in creating healthier communities.”

The Summit offers students a safe environment to openly discuss mental health topics alongside their peers and mental health professionals. By fostering these conversations, BRAVE strives to normalize conversations about mental wellness and empower students to seek help and support when needed.

"Last year, we welcomed almost 2,000 high school students from 21 school districts participate, and we are eager to enhance this year's Summit even more,” said Paige Stanton, the founder of the event and executive director of UF Health St. Johns Care Connect. "Our focus is to reach as many teens as possible and raise awareness about the mental health resources available to them. It’s incredibly rewarding to help them understand they’re not alone in facing these challenges; many of their peers are navigating similar experiences."

The BRAVE Summit is a centerpiece event of the BRAVE program. BRAVE, which stands for Be Resilient and Voice Emotions, was founded in 2019 and has already made significant progress in connecting high school teens to mental health resources. Before BRAVE’s implementation in St. Johns County Schools, only 35% of students who were referred to mental health providers were seen by a medical professional. With the BRAVE program, that rate has increased to 90%. Since its founding and despite the pandemic, BRAVE has expanded into 10 school districts across the state, with the ability to assist nearly 300,000 students.

Visit bit.ly/BRAVESummit2025 to learn more or register for the BRAVE Summit.