SURE’s annual Nehemiah Action puts officials and candidates in the hot seat.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: April 29, 2026
Host: Every year at their “Nehemiah Action” event, a coalition of Sarasota churches is putting the spotlight on a particular challenge in the county. The intent: Press local officials to take action. This Monday, the spotlight was on mental health—specifically, the big gap of mental health services for young people. Ramon Lopez was at the event.
This year’s ‘Nehemiah Action’, hosted by First Congregational UCC, featured three school board candidates, a sitting school board member, and a county commissioner. | Photos: Lopez
Ramon Lopez: Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity, SURE for short, is calling for community action to counter a youth mental health crisis.
The local coalition of religious groups held a so-called Nehemiah Action, which is an annual event. In it, faith leaders directly confront elected officials in hope of securing commitments for concrete solutions. It took place Monday evening at Sarasota’s First Congregational UCC.
The action is named after a chapter in scripture where the Hebrew prophet Nehemiah called an assembly of local leaders to hold them accountable for the suffering of their people.
In attendance were several hundred county residents, members of the faith communities, educators and health care professionals.
Also accepting the religious group’s invitation were three candidates for the County School Board: Beth Mayberry, Megan Tennimon and Jimmy Glover. School Board member Liz Barker and Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith were also on the hot seat.
SURE’s local religious leaders each year select a serious social issue to address. They picked youth mental health as this year’s target. SURE’s researchers scrutinized healthcare across Sarasota County, interviewing various health care providers, school counselors and subject matter experts. And they reviewed current county health care programs.
They said the findings are crystal clear: current youth mental health treatment is overwhelmed and in crisis, due to an overall system failure. There is $6.5 million earmarked annually for various mental health treatment programs. But the study concluded alignment is missing, capacity remains insufficient and families face a fragmented system.
Among the study’s findings: Youth mental health disorders in Florida have increased by 25% over the past five years. Suicide rates among teens exceed the national average.
One of the most alarming trends? The rise in youth entering out-of-home care not due to abuse or neglect but because families cannot access timely mental health treatment.
Leading the study was Dr. Andy Blanch.
Andy Blanch: We are in the middle of a youth mental health crisis. The rates of depression and anxiety and other severe mental health conditions are rising way more rapidly among pre-teens and teens than in any other age group, and they have been for several decades.
RL: SURE Executive Director Michelle Jewell said: “What we need now is the public will to align the system around prevention, youth treatment and coordinated access.”
She said SURE can make an impact by creating a clear front door so families can access care quickly and close the gap between screening and actual care.
The bottom line? Credibility. So says Bethel CME’s Reverend John Walker.
Liz Barker
John Walker: Parents navigating a system that is fragmented, confusing and often inaccessible. People, this is not a service gap. This is a moral gap. As people of faith, we are called to close that gap.
RL: As per the event’s standard format, the school board contenders were asked, if elected, would they support collaboration on youth mental health efforts and strengthened partnerships between schools and community health providers? They all said yes. School Board member Liz Barker agreed with the hopefuls and added:
Liz Barker: I am a former school psychologist. I didn’t really know what I was walking into tonight, and sitting here and being with you all has filled me with such an enormous amount of hope and peace—that maybe, maybe this is the time for change, that maybe we are the people for change and that maybe we will begin to really put our students and their families first. Thank you so much.
[Applause]
RL: Affordable housing is a component of improved mental health. But there’s only a paltry $330,000 budgeted annually for the county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. County Commissioner Mark Smith was put on the spot, asked how much should be earmarked for the fund in the coming years.
Mark Smith
Mark Smith: I’m hopeful for a million and a half to two million and maybe up to five. But we also need to know what Tallahassee’s going to do with our property taxes.
RL: We’ll give Rev. John Walker the final word.
JW: So let us move forward together, grounded in faith, guided by justice and committed to action. We can build a community where healing is not delayed, where support is not out of reach and where every family knows they are not alone. This has everything to do with liberty and justice for all.
RL: This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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