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Health & Fitness

Mental Health and the Church Summit

Pastor Rick Warren and his wife Kay will host The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church at Saddleback Church, 1 Saddleback Rd., Lake Forest, CA on March 28, 2014 from 8:30 am to 9 pm.   Tickets for the daylong conference are available to anyone for $20.

Several mental health experts and the National Alliance on Mental Illness,Orange County will join the Warrens and the church to host the event.

It is the goal of the organizers to educate the public, encourage individuals living with mental illness and provide leaders to be effective and compassionate.

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This is the first event of this nature following the suicide of the Warren’s son Matthew on April 5, 2013.

"It's so important that people know, no matter how desperate their despair, there is hope, and not to give up," said Kay Warren. "We want this to be a hopeful event that encourages individuals and helps them realize they are not alone in dealing with mental illness."

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Mental illness is grossly misunderstood in our society.  More people die of suicide than in car accidents and most suicides are committed with guns.

According to the National Institutes of Health one in 17 Americans live with a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or major depression.

If you are in despair in the U.S. please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

For more information go to http://mentalhealthandthechurch.com/.

 

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