"Rick and I know what it is like to walk the long journey of mental illness with a child. Our youngest son, Matthew, was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety as a young child, and later, with chronic suicidality, OCD, and borderline personality disorder. We sought the best help we could for Matthew but grew frustrated with a mental health system that frequently lacked coordination, availability, and accessibility. We often felt isolated and alone on the journey, misunderstood and judged by others, and heartbroken that we could not get the help our dear son needed to survive and thrive.
After 20 years of intense struggle, serious mental illness became a burden Matthew could no longer carry, and he took his life on April 5, 2013. Our grief has been immense; family, friends, and the hope of Heaven have sustained us.
In the aftermath of Matthew’s death, we regularly encourage the faith community through our writing and public speaking to recognize the suffering that mental illness brings to people and to offer kindness, compassion, and practical help for affected families in response. I have become a mental health and suicide prevention advocate for individuals and families. In 2019, Rick and I decided to honor our son by providing wholistic support for other families walking the long road of mental illness through the ministry of BREATHE."
- Kay Warren
If you have a child of any age who struggles with their mental health, please join us at our next BREATHE event. Free BREATHE Zoom Calls with Kay Warren and guests are available on a regular basis for parents with children of any age who live with mental illness.
Wednesday
17
Sep 2025
Wednesday
17
-
Sep 2025
Join us Wednesday, September 17 at 5:30 p.m. (PT) for our next Conversations Call with Kay Warren, as she speaks with Dr. John Swinton, theologian, educator, and longtime mental health advocate, drawing from the themes of his book, Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. Together, they will reflect on what it means to be made in God’s image, called a friend by Jesus, and faithfully accompanied by him—even in seasons of exhaustion, uncertainty, and pain. They’ll also speak candidly about the cultural stigma that surrounds mental illness, and how we can begin to shift from silence to understanding, and from shame to dignity. This honest and engaging conversation will offer hope, perspective, and strength to any parent caring for their loved one.
Saturday
23
Aug 2025
Saturday
23
-
Aug 2025
If you have a child of any age who struggles with their mental health, please join us at BREATHE Together: A one-day marriage enrichment event for couples.
Friday
17
Oct 2025
Friday
17
-
Sunday
19
Oct 2025
If you have a child of any age who struggles with their mental health, please join us at BREATHE: A Restorative Retreat for Moms.
