After a nine-year hiatus and with funding from the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation, Sunshine from Darkness returns to present the Journey to Wellness Symposium and Inspiring Hope Dinner, at 8:45 am and 6:30 pm, respectively, on Saturday, March 14.

More than 45,000 people die annually by suicide; it is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages. One in 25 adults in the U.S. has a serious mental illness that limits or interferes with major life activities. Depression alone leads to 51 billion dollars in lost productivity per year.   

It is quite likely that you know someone with a mental health challenge whose life would be improved with better treatment and support, and less stigma. While Mental Health America ranks Florida 12th in the prevalence of mental illness, the state ranks dead last in per-person spending for mental health services. 

The free Journey to Wellness Symposium takes place at Van Wezel. The Inspiring Hope Dinner, featuring three celebrity speakers/mental health advocates, takes place at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Proceeds will benefit mental health services of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare and First Step of Sarasota, and cutting-edge brain research.

For more information or registration, go to SunshinefromDarkness.org