The Mental Illness Ministry at St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church presents a special two-part series dedicated to the memory of Robin Williams and all who live with a mental disorder and thoughts of suicide.

“Understanding Depression” will be presented on Sunday, September 7, at 10:15 a.m. A depressive illness is a “whole-body” illness involving the body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It is not just a passing blue mood. It is also not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. Depressive illnesses may be associated with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, negative life experiences, other medical illnesses, medications, certain personality traits, and genetic factors. With the effective medications and therapies available today, most people, including those with the most severe forms, can improve significantly. A short video will be followed by a discussion about how this illness affects individuals and their families and where help can be found.

The second forum, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Suicide but Were Afraid to Ask,” will be presented on Sunday, September 14, at 10:15 a.m. Suicide can be, of course, a frightening and mystifying phenomenon. However, those who live with mental illness and who may have contemplated this “permanent solution to a temporary problem” often use humor as a coping mechanism and consider humor to be healthy. Several individuals who have considered/attempted suicide will share their insights in this enlightening presentation. Facilitated by Scott Whitley, of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Depression/Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

Forums take place in the La Paz room at St. Philip’s. The public is cordially invited to attend. There is no charge.

St. Philip’s Mental Illness Ministry is committed to developing a caring faith community through education about mental illness and available resources, hospitality and a warm welcome to everyone affected by mental illness, and support for individuals and their families.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or on the east side under our solar parking structure. The office phone number is 299-6421.