Spotlighting awareness, advocacy and education on World Mental Health Day

WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A LIVE LOOK THIS MORNING AT LAKE EOLA IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, WHERE TONIGHT THE FOUNTAIN WILL LIGHT UP GREEN FOR WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY EVERY YEAR ON OCTOBER 10TH. PEOPLE TAKE A MOMENT TO TRY TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE, RAISE AWARENESS, AND MOBILIZE EFFORTS. ALL IS ALL IN SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH HERE IN FLORIDA AND AROUND THE WORLD. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS REMINDS YOU MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS ALL OF US, NOT JUST THE 1 IN 5 ADULTS ACROSS AMERICA WHO EXPERIENCE A CONDITION. AND IT’S A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE 1 IN 7 KIDS, AGES 6 TO 17, WHO STRUGGLE EVERY YEAR, NAMI SAYS. JUST LAST YEAR, 52% OF ADULTS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY BATTLING MENTAL ILLNESS RECEIVED TREATMENT. SO TODAY, THE CALL TO ACTION IS CLEAR BREAK THE STIGMA. EMPOWER AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITIES AND WORK TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. LICENSED THERAPIST CHARLOTTE MCCULLOUGH JOINS US HERE THIS MORNING. CHARLOTTE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADVOCATING AND BEING HERE. ABSOLUTELY. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, CHRISTINA. WE HAVE SEEN THE CONVERSATION CHANGE OVER THE YEARS SURROUNDING MENTAL WELLNESS IN A GOOD WAY, BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AND MYTHS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. TALK ABOUT THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT YOU MUST BE IN A CRISIS BEFORE YOU GO TO THERAPY. THERAPY IS FOR EVERYONE. ANOTHER ONE IS THAT FAITH AND THERAPY DON’T GO TOGETHER AND THE TWO OF THEM GO TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY. I ALWAYS SAY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FAITH AND MENTAL HEALTH, THE ANGELS, IF THAT’S WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, ARE THE COUNSELORS SUCH AS YOURSELF HERE ON EARTH, DOING THE REAL WORK, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. WE’RE THE CONDUITS HERE ON EARTH. ABSOLUTELY. CHARLOTTE, TODAY FOR WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, A BIG GOAL IS REDUCING THE STIGMA. WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS WE CAN REDUCE STIGMA, NOT ONLY JUST IN OUR HOMES, BUT AT OUR SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, ANYWHERE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY? AND IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GIVE ALL OF THOSE AREAS. WE BREAK STIGMA BY BEING HONEST, BY BEING TRUTHFUL, BY REALLY TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT WE’RE SUFFERING IN SILENCE ABOUT. SO TALKING ABOUT THE TRUTH AT OUR DINNER TABLES, IN OUR BOARDROOMS, ALSO IN THE PULPIT, AT CHURCHES, JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT THOSE REAL PROBLEMS ARE AND NORMALIZING THAT IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY. BUT WHAT’S NOT OKAY IS REMAINING SILENT AND BEING A GOOD LISTENER, RIGHT. WHEN PEOPLE BRING THOSE CONCERNS TO YOU, HOW CRUCIAL IS IT FOR SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END TO MAKE SURE THEY JUST LISTEN? ABSOLUTELY. AND IT’S NOT ABOUT SOLVING IT. SOMETIMES IT’S JUST CONNECTING THEM TO A RESOURCE LIKE SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE, BUT JUST CONNECTING THEM, IT’S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SOLVE IT, BUT YOU CAN CONNECT THEM TO SOMEONE JUST LISTENING AND CONNECTING. I LOVE THAT BEFORE WE GET TO THE RESOURCES, CHARLOTTE, LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME SMALL BUT POWERFUL DAILY PRACTICES ANYBODY CAN DO, STARTING RIGHT NOW TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL WELL-BEING. SO ONE, I WOULD SAY BREATHE. ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BREATHE BEFORE YOU RESPOND OR REACT. ANOTHER ONE IS PROTECT YOUR MIND AND YOUR PEACE LIKE YOU PROTECT YOUR PHONE BATTERY, YOUR CHARGER, YOUR BATTERY ON YOUR CELL PHONE. WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CHARGER WITH THAT, RIGHT? ONE OF THE WAYS THAT RECHARGE OUR MINDS IS BEING ABLE TO HAVE BOUNDARIES AND REST. SO PROTECTING THAT FOR US. ANOTHER ONE IS JUST DOING YOUR DAILY CHECK INS EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY, NOT JUST HOW YOU LOOK, BUT HOW YOU FEEL. JUST DOING THAT. CHECKING. HOW DO I FEEL TODAY? WHAT AM I FEELING TODAY AND BEING HONEST ABOUT THAT? WE SAY, CHECK ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AS OFTEN AS YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH. ABSOLUTELY. WHICH SHOULD BE EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE A DAY. SURE. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FREE RESOURCES. RIGHT NOW HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS PEOPLE CAN GET REAL HELP RIGHT NOW. ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL OR REACH OUT TO THEM ONLINE. YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND OUR CRISIS HOTLINE 988 FROM YOUR CELL PHONE. THAT IS FANTASTIC. ALSO, THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IS ANOTHER RESOURCE. AND ALL OF THESE ARE FREE. FREE. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REACH OUT. JUST TAKE ACTION. TODAY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS, BUT EMPOWERMENT, TAKING ACTION. AND THE NEXT STEP IS JUST MAKING THAT CALL. THAT’S FANTASTIC. CHARLOTTE, IF PEOPLE WANT TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO GET ANY OTHER ADVICE ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL WELL-BEING, WHERE CAN THEY FIND THEY CAN ALWAYS REACH ME ON MY WEBSITE W-W-W. CENTERPIECE THERAPY OR (407) 230-4582. AND WE WILL BE SURE TO POST ALL OF THIS INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WESH.COM. TONIGHT AT LAKE EOLA PARK, THE FOUNTAIN WILL LIGHT UP GREEN. THAT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND WE INVITE PEOPLE TO COME OUT IF THEY GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT THIS EVE

Spotlighting awareness, advocacy and education on World Mental Health Day

Licensed marriage and family therapist Cherlette McCullough joins WESH 2 to discuss the social stigma surrounding mental health, local resources and the shifting perspective in our communities.

Updated: 11:09 AM EDT Oct 10, 2025

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The fountain at Lake Eola Park in Orlando will light up green on Friday, Oct. 10, in support of World Mental Health Day. The free event is organized by the Mental Health Association of Central Florida in partnership with the city of Orlando.Time: 7:15-8:45 p.m.Location: Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., OrlandoRecommended parking: 605 E. Robinson St., OrlandoLicensed marriage and family therapist and MHACF board member Cherlette McCullough joins WESH 2 to discuss the social stigma surrounding mental health, local resources and the shifting perspective in our communities.Mental Health Association of Central Florida NAMI Greater OrlandoAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Click here to learn more about the event. If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

The fountain at Lake Eola Park in Orlando will light up green on Friday, Oct. 10, in support of World Mental Health Day.

The free event is organized by the Mental Health Association of Central Florida in partnership with the city of Orlando.

Time: 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Location: Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., Orlando

Recommended parking: 605 E. Robinson St., Orlando

Licensed marriage and family therapist and MHACF board member Cherlette McCullough joins WESH 2 to discuss the social stigma surrounding mental health, local resources and the shifting perspective in our communities.

Mental Health Association of Central Florida

NAMI Greater Orlando

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Click here to learn more about the event.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.