Millions of people live with anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental health conditions every day. The covid pandemic only exacerbated these problems. However, even as the pandemic subsides and life returns to some semblance of normal, our collective mental health challenges haven’t disappeared.
The Heart and Mind Summit was created to offer accessible resources to those struggling with challenges like these. Hosted at the North Hills church, the first event was in the planning stage before the start of the covid pandemic. Like many things, it was delayed; however, it was held remotely in 2021.
The event focused on ways to combat depression and anxiety. “It was really timely as we tried to focus on gratitude and getting outside,” said Tim Cress, North Hills church pastor, “trying to help give people some tools and let them know they’re not alone.”
The following year, the event was held in person for the first time. Taking the pulse of what people needed at the time, the theme “Rebuilding Community” was chosen and presented by pastors Shasta and Greg Nelson, who talked about the benefits of friendship.
According to the event website, this year’s event, themed “Life on Red Alert,” would be “an experiential workshop that takes us into the fears and anxieties that take control of our lives, and shows us the proven pathway of thinking, feeling, relating, and simply being that can return us to peace and serenity.”
With two keynote sessions and five breakout sessions, the event was packed with resources and expertise from five local mental health professionals. Breakout sessions were offered twice, with the following topics:
- Anxiety 101, presented by Sharon Tanghal, LCSW
- The Narrow Road to Serenity, presented by Dennis Wallstrom, Ph.D.
- Self-Regulation: An Essential Strategy in the Management of Fear and Anxiety, presented by Nella Valencia-Ngo, LMFT
- It’s All in Your Head: The Neurobiology of Stress and Anxiety, presented by Angela Yi, Ph.D.
- Just Breathe, presented by Melissa Kulasekere, M.A.
“When I first heard about the event, it was an answer to my prayer as I’d been struggling with anxiety,” said Araya Moss, member at All Nations church. “I’m thankful to God for hearing me, because attending the event gave me a better understanding of what I’d been dealing with and motivated me to seek help with my mental health.” The 2023 event is available to watch on YouTube at https://scc.adventist.org/lifeonredalert. Following the event, The Heart and Mind Podcast was launched, with the first episode featuring the keynote presenter from the event. Learn more at https://www.heartandmindsummit.org/resources/podcast.
“More than anything, we just want to help,” Cress said. “It’s a crisis; we’re living in a mental health crisis.”
Next year’s summit will focus on family systems. How do we find ways to relate to one another that are helpful and relational? Visit the website at www.heartandmindsummit.org for more information.
