Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to unveil mental health mural, kicking off city-wide awareness campaign

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp has teamed up with ‘Hearts 4 Minds’ and created a community mural focused on the importance of addressing mental health.

The mural will be unveiled Sunday, May 30, at 2 p.m. at the 121 Financial Ballpark.

Fans are invited to engage with the mural prior to the Shrimp’s 3:05 p.m. game against Durham.

Sponsored by Baptist Health, the mural includes handprints from the community and a QR code for people to connect to mental health resources in Jacksonville.

Local News: Jacksonville City Council approves gas tax increase

The handprints are intended to be a reminder that everyone has the power to change in the palm of their own hand.

The resources linked in the QR code will include help for those insured and uninsured. It will also include resources for those who know someone that is struggling with mental illness and instructions to strengthen their support system.

There will also be mental health resource partners in attendance the day of the reveal.

The Jacksonville volunteer-organization, Hearts 4 Minds, was started by a mother who lost her son to suicide over three years ago.

It aims to save lives by raising the importance of discussing mental health.

Founder and President, Sheryll Johnson believes if people normalize the conversation around mental health, it can save lives.

And that’s what she’s set out to do.

The new mural is the first mental health mural in Jacksonville, and it is not just a painting in a ballpark.

The May 30 unveiling is the start of a broader citywide campaign to raise awareness about mental health.

RELATED: City council committee works out city-wide mental health campaign

“The Jumbo Shrimp are proud to be great partners in the launch of this initiative,” said Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president/general manager Harold Craw. “Mental health touches every aspect of our community, and we are proud to do our part to bring access to resources to all of Jacksonville.”

The City of Jacksonville has partnered with ‘Hearts 4 Minds’ as the contractor to organize the campaign.

After the unveiling, the campaign will move to social media, student and school groups, promoting mental health campaigns throughout the city.

RESOURCES: Mental health help

©2021 Cox Media Group