By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bills 1620 and 168 at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine building

The University of South Florida continues to increase its leadership in addressing the critical mental and behavioral challenges facing the state of Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the intent to establish the Senator Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research within the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, part of USF’s College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.

The announcement was made during an event held at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine building in downtown Tampa where the governor signed Senate Bill 1620, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, sponsored by Rouson, which implements several recommendations to address mental health issues in the state.

Mike Griffin, vice chair of the USF Board of Trustees

“Florida is leading the nation in delivering meaningful solutions to tackle these complex issues and help improve people’s lives,” DeSantis said. “As the nation’s largest behavioral health services research institute, the Rouson Center will continue its cutting-edge research to help transform the lives of people struggling with addiction and mental health.”

The center will conduct rigorous research that will advance the scientific understanding of the relationship between substance abuse and mental health issues, including improving treatment outcomes and reducing the societal impacts of substance abuse and mental health conditions.

“The University of South Florida is where you come for solutions, it’s where you come for action, where you come for impact,” said Mike Griffin, vice chair of the USF Board of Trustees, adding that he and Chair Will Weatherford will bring a future resolution to the board to formally name the center for Rouson.

USF President Rhea Law presents Sen. Darryl Rouson a framed photo of him with former NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the brother of the late USF men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, taken during the Florida Senate’s formal recognition in April 2025 of Coach Abdur-Rahim’s life and impact on the state of Florida

Rouson has been a champion for USF since being elected to the Florida Legislature in 2008, serving Hillsborough and Pinellas counties – home to USF’s campuses in Tampa and St. Petersburg. He first served as a state representative and was elected to the Florida Senate in 2016, supporting a number of measures, including a resolution during the 2025 legislative session to honor the life and legacy of former USF men’s basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away last year.

As chair of Florida’s Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, he shared with the audience how he overcame his challenges with mental health and how he vividly remembers when he first asked for help 27 years ago.

“I’m very honored for this honor that’s been bestowed upon me,” Rouson said. “This legislation is a direct result of the hard work of the commission. It turns thoughtful recommendations into real policy. It will ensure that Florida continues to be a leader in how we treat people living with mental illness, not just in moments of crisis, but across the entire continuum of care.”

The center will build upon the state’s investment in USF’s efforts to address mental health and addiction. During the 2024 legislative session, USF was awarded $5 million in recurring funds to create the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce.

The legislature also designated Tampa General Hospital as one of the first four behavioral health teaching hospitals in Florida. In February, in partnership with USF Health and Lifepoint Health, Tampa General Hospital opened TGH Behavioral Health Hospital – Florida’s first and only freestanding academic medical center-affiliated behavioral health hospital.

Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute on the USF Tampa campus [Photo by Patricia Harrison, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences] Grand opening celebration of the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital [Photo courtesy of USF Health]

In addition to Senate Bill 1620, at the event DeSantis signed Senate Bill 168, the Tristin Murphy Act, which creates model processes for diverting defendants to mental health treatment. The legislation is named after Tristin Murphy who suffered mental illness and tragically took his own life in a Florida prison in 2021.

Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed and , expanding access to mental health and substance abuse resources across the state.

The Governor also announced that the Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida will now be known as the Senator Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research, honoring the senator’s leadership in addressing behavioral health issues.

“Florida is leading the nation in delivering meaningful solutions to tackle these complex issues and help improve people’s lives,” DeSantis said.

See also:

S.B. 1620 includes measures to:

Standardize clinical assessments for mental health across providers and schools

Improve discharge planning, including access to long-acting injectable medications

Expand mobile crisis response teams for seniors

Review telehealth access every two years, focusing on underserved areas

Invest in workforce development with training programs and stipends

S.B. 168, also known as the “Tristin Murphy Act,” establishes new diversion programs for individuals with mental illnesses and includes:

The creation of misdemeanor and pretrial felony diversion programs

Clear procedures for law enforcement to divert individuals from jail to treatment

Expanded grants for veteran treatment courts and emergency responder training

Mandatory evaluations for individuals with a history of incompetency before probation

The legislation underscores Florida’s effort to reform mental health care and reduce unnecessary incarceration for those dealing with behavioral health challenges.

If you feel like you might want to talk to someone or know someone who could use some support, below you will find are several agencies to contact:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline : 988 is confidential, free crisis service that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

: 988 is confidential, free crisis service that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 741741 Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741. The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S.

Text “HELLO” to 741741. The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. 1-800-273-8266 Veteran Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text to 838255. The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a trained responder, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare.

Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text to 838255. The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a trained responder, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare. 1-800-985-5990 National Disaster Distress Helpline: The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week 1-800-799-7233 National Domestic Violence Hotline: you can also text ” LOVEIS” to 22522

you can also text ” LOVEIS” to 1-800-422-4453 National Child Abuse Hotline: you can also text 1-800-422-4453

you can also text 1-800-656-4673 National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-677-1116 Elder Care Locator

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