Shared Humanity 05: Grieving Suicide in the Public Eye

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses suicide and may contain distressing content. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call, text, or chat 9-8-8 anywhere within the United States to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

In this episode of Shared Humanity: The humans behind the headlines, host Nelba Márquez-Greene, Yale School of Public Health Activist in Residence, is joined by Kay Warren – author, speaker, and Bible teacher. Warren discusses grieving suicide in the public eye and how she keeps hope with the help of a hope box.

Warren co-founded Saddleback Church with her husband, Rick Warren, in 1980 and served until Rick's retirement in 2022. After the death of her son Matthew, who lived with serious mental illness, she founded Saddleback's Hope for Mental Health Initiative and the Hope for Mental Health Community to support individuals and families.

In 2019, she started BREATHE, a ministry for parents of children with serious mental illness, offering respite retreats for moms, online retreats and prayer calls for moms and dads, and webinars with leading mental health professionals.

In 2024, Kay launched Hope for Brighter Tomorrows, a nonprofit supporting families affected by mental health challenges and equipping churches to assist them. She served on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention board for 8 years and is active in mental health efforts in Orange County, CA. Kay authored several books, and has three children – Amy, Josh, and Matthew, and five grandchildren.

Links from this episode:

• www.kaywarren.com
• Kay Warren's X profile
• Kay Warren's Instagram