- Meet Florida Today’s new mental health reporter
- Mental health challenges affect more than one in five Americans, with even higher rates locally.
- You’re not alone. Your stories and experiences contribute to the conversation and can help others.
As a journalist, I’ve covered everything from breaking news and public policy to tech trends, crime, hurricanes and stories that remind us of our shared humanity.
Throughout the years, my work has taken me across many newsrooms, but my career started right here in Brevard as a reporter for FLORIDA TODAY — and now, nearly 25 years later, I’m so honored to make my return as FLORIDA TODAY’s mental health reporter.
Of all the areas I’ve covered, no topic has felt more personal or pressing than this one.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five Americans live with a mental illness. Here in Brevard County, the picture is even more concerning. The Space Coast Health Foundation’s 2025 Community Needs Health Assessment found that 26% of local residents rated their mental health as “fair” or “poor,” compared to the national average of 24.4%. Even more striking, more than 30% of Brevard adults have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder—nearly twice the state average.
Mental health touches every corner of our lives. It’s something many of us struggle with quietly, and it’s rarely talked about openly, or often enough. I want to help change that.
I’ve called Brevard County home for more than 30 years. I met my husband here, raised our children here, and built a life rooted in this community. Like so many of you, I’ve faced my own mental health challenges, and I’ve been in the trenches with a loved one, searching for answers and struggling to find the right help at the right time.
My goal with this coverage is simple: I want to shine a light on the issues that matter most to you, whether it’s access to care, addiction and recovery, senior isolation, youth mental health, or suicide prevention. Let’s walk though this together.
Maybe you’re uninsured and grappling with meeting treatment costs, or you’re trying to help a parent with dementia. Perhaps you have a child with co-occurring conditions — or maybe you just don’t know what the real issue is and need guidance. I hope to offer a path to the resources available locally that can help — and highlight the inspiring work being done by community advocates.
But I can’t do it alone.
If you have a story idea, know someone doing great work in this space, or simply want to share your lived experience in a way that might help others, I want to hear from you. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, a teen, a veteran, or someone quietly trying to get through the day, I’m here to listen and tell your story with care, accuracy and dignity.
We’re all on this journey together.
You can reach me directly at JMTorres@gannett.com, and I hope you’ll follow along at floridatoday.com as we have this essential conversation together.
Thank you for welcoming me into this role, and for your courage to be part of it.
This reporting is supported by a Journalism Funding Partners grant. Mental Health Reporter Jennifer Torres can be reached at JMTorres@gannett.com.
