Compeer Sarasota is harnessing the power of the Internet with a three pronged launch of a new website, Facebook presence, and Instagram site - all for the purpose of offering youth as young as five, along with their parents and teachers the power of one-on-one mentorships for those with a mental illness. On July 18, 2019, the Florida State Board of Education voted to require the public schools to provide students in grades six and above to take a minimum of five hours of mental health education annually. 

“This Compeer Sarasota Youth effort dovetails nicely into the state’s upcoming mental health education requirement.” states Lynn Buehler, Director of Compeer Sarasota. “With students soon studying mental health at school, these social media outlets could fill in the blanks as well as offer one alternative to facing mental illness alone.” Suppying friendships with adult mentors is the key to Compeer’s youth program and social media is one more step to reaching young people and matching them to adult volunteers in the Sarasota area.

Learn more about Compeer Sarasota Youth