Mental Health News

'I feel like they failed us’: Florida families seek answers after prone restraint deaths inside ment

Channel 10 Tampa Bay News: 10 Investigates

Jennifer Titus, Libby Hendren

September 24, 2026

Florida prohibits prolonged prone restraint inside mental health hospitals, but 10 Investigates found the state does not track deaths involving restraint.

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/florida-prone-restraint-deaths-mental-health-facilities/67-6b8562b0-309e-4264-9296-0c8900352d32

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Held without Help: Hundreds of mentally ill inmates wait months in jail despite 15-day transfer law

THANK YOU to FLMHAC member and brave mom, Paula Silvestri, who advocated relentlessly for her daughter Danielle who waited in jail for over six months for a treatment bed to become available. Paula spoke with reporter Jennifer Titus of Channel 10 Tampa Bay News:

Jennifer Titus, Libby Hendren, Riley Phillips

February 24, 2026

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/held-without-help-mentally-ill-inmates-wait-months-jail-15-day-transfer-law/67-eefea467-a273-4949-80e0-5745960c3fbd

FLMHAC Honors Florida Legislators for Their Work on Tristin Murphy Act

November 7, 2025

The Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (FLMHAC) awarded State Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-6) and Representative Nan Cobb (R-26) the 2025 FLMHAC Champion Legislator Awards for their legislative work on the Tristin Murphy Act, to provide diversion from jail to treatment for qualifying inmates. FLMHAC also extends great appreciation to Representative Dan Daley (D-96), who sponsored the House bill with Representative Cobb.

'Rehab: An American Scandal' explores how treatment fails those with addiction

NPR (Here and Now Newsroom)

November 6, 2025

As the opioid crisis grew in the United States, so did the number of centers for addiction treatment. But as investigative reporter Shoshana Walter writes in a new book, many of these centers fail to meet the needs of those with addictions and suffer from a lack of oversight.

FLMHAC Honors Two Florida Legislators for Their Work on Baker & Marchman Acts

November 11, 2024

State Representatives Patt Maney (R-4) and Traci Koster (R-66) received 2024 Champion Legislator awards from the Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition(FLMHAC) for their legislative work to improve Florida’s Baker & Marchman Acts.

news ARCHIVE

FLMHAC is proud of NAMI Nassau Advocate Kim Lewis

We thank Kim, Rep. Bean, and NAMI's Director of Congressional Affairs, Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy, Michael Linskey

Central Florida Veterans with Substance Abuse Issue Find Help

December 13, 2023: Spectrum News 13 Orlando - Emil Caron is a current FLMHAC board member

988 crisis-response system getting Florida’s attention

July 13, 2023: Orlando Sentinel

Two Florida Legislators Honored for Work in Mental Health

July 5, 2022: Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition

"I felt so alone": Rising rates of suicide, depression accelerated by pandemic among U.S. kids

May 9, 2022: CBS: 60 Minutes

The suicide hotline soon will be 3 digits. But Florida is unprepared, advocates say.

April 15, 2022: Sun-Sentinel

Polk law enforcement agencies add new positions dedicated to help with mental health

March 29, 2022: WFTS Tampa Bay

Mental Health Advocates Celebrate Progress in Tallahassee

March 15, 2022: WFTV9

State Lawmakers Must Act Fast to Leverage Federal Dollars Toward Skyrocketing Demand for Behavioral

February 15, 2022: Florida Policy Institute

Mental Health News

'I feel like they failed us’: Florida families seek answers after prone restraint deaths inside ment

State Cites Mental HEAlth Facilities

OP-ED 9-8-8 Lifeline

news

Held without Help: Hundreds of mentally ill inmates wait months in jail despite 15-day transfer law

FLMHAC Honors Florida Legislators for Their Work on Tristin Murphy Act

'Rehab: An American Scandal' explores how treatment fails those with addiction

FLMHAC Honors Two Florida Legislators for Their Work on Baker & Marchman Acts

news ARCHIVE

FLMHAC is proud of NAMI Nassau Advocate Kim Lewis

Central Florida Veterans with Substance Abuse Issue Find Help

988 crisis-response system getting Florida’s attention

Two Florida Legislators Honored for Work in Mental Health

"I felt so alone": Rising rates of suicide, depression accelerated by pandemic among U.S. kids

The suicide hotline soon will be 3 digits. But Florida is unprepared, advocates say.

Polk law enforcement agencies add new positions dedicated to help with mental health

Mental Health Advocates Celebrate Progress in Tallahassee

State Lawmakers Must Act Fast to Leverage Federal Dollars Toward Skyrocketing Demand for Behavioral

Two Florida Legislators Honored for Work in Mental Health

FLMHAC Names Rep. Christine Hunschofsky as the 2022 Florida House Legislator of the Year

FLMHAC Names Sen. Brodeur as 2022 Florida Senate Legislator of the Year