Episode 22 | Special Episode: The Time is Now

In this special episode of Life-Giving Water Messages, Rev. Todd R. Lattig and Rev. Sal Seirmarco discuss depression, anxiety, other mental illnesses and suicide. In this discussion, Todd and Sal get personal about their own struggles, as well as converse about the need for church communities to participate in destigmatizing and ministering to people who are suffering. The time for conversation and action is now.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We recognize that it is not just those who have mental illness, suicidal ideations, and/or have died by suicide who suffer; rather, the family and friends of those people suffer as well. While we do make brief mention of the families of suicide victims, and bring up resources (e.g. NAMI, see below), we thought we would mention it here as well. Often such people also endure depression, guilt, shame and other things as a result of losing someone they love in such a way. While we don't address this at length in the podcast, we want to be clear that we believe the church, and society, should be reaching out compassionately and lovingly to them as well.

While this episode does discuss where our society, and the Church, are failing people (and their families) who are suffering...we do so to raise awareness and to spark dialog on this very pressing and important issue. The idea is not to guilt or shame people for the past, but to challenge all of us to rise up to address this issue in the present. We all do what we believe to be right in the moment, but we can always learn and grow. The past is past. The present is what matters and that will affect the future. The time is now. 

We welcome respectful and constructive engagement on Twitter.

Todd's Twitter: @trlattig

Sal's Twitter: @Sal_S1979

EPISODE REFERENCES:

• The song at the end of this episode is entitled, "Find Me" and was written by Gene Taylor. Used with permission. Please click here to check out Gene Taylor's Facebook Page.

• If you are experiencing depression and/or are having suicidal ideations, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 1-800-273-8255

• Click here to visit the web page for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

• Click here to read Paul Tillich's sermon, "You Are Accepted".

• Click here to find out more information on Brennan Maning, and click here to check out "The Ragamuffin Gospel" on Amazon.

• Click here to check out the film, "Ragamuffin", on the life of Rich Mullins