In This Episode:
Mental health challenges are real and they’re common. It has been reported that 1 in 5 adults experience some form of mental illness in a given year, and nearly 1 in 5 children have some type of serious mental illness. Kay Warren discusses how we can support individuals struggling with mental health challenges and their loved ones. Kay cofounded Saddleback Church with her husband, Rick Warren. After the death of her son, Matthew, who lived with serious mental illness for most of his life, she founded Saddleback’s Hope for Mental Health Initiative as a way to support individuals and family members of loved ones with mental illness and suicidal ideation. In 2019, Kay started BREATHE, a ministry to support parents of children with serious mental illness. BREATHE events include weekend respite retreats, online retreats, and free Zoom calls with mental health professionals. Kay was a board member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and is active in mental health/suicide prevention efforts in Orange County, Ca. She is the author of several books including, Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough.