KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A women's group at Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church hopes to normalize discussions around mental health.
On Sunday night, the group hosted an outreach program on that topic after one of their members lost a loved one to suicide.
There were discussions on how to tell if someone is suffering from mental illness how to talk about uncomfortable situations and one-on-one sessions to show that opening up is okay.
The group said just noticing the signs isn't enough.
They said you have to be willing to talk about those signs.
"People a lot of times don't want to listen to that. They might not feel comfortable. Our goal is to provide a situation where people not only feel comfortable talking about those needs, but they feel comfortable listening to others," said Kristi Bumpus, a member of the women's support group.
Middlebrook United Methodist Church offers resources for those who need help and training for people who want to learn to talk about mental illness.