Stephen O’Connor, PhD, associate director of the UofL Depression Center, will present “Understanding and Recovering from Suicidality” at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2000 Douglass Blvd. The lecture is sponsored by the and .

Depression is an important topic to focus on for suicide prevention, but there is much more to suicidal experiences that are not explained or characterized by depression, O’Connor said.

“This is a misunderstood topic and we want people to better understand how to conceptualize why people develop suicidal thoughts,” O’Connor said. “Although the majority of people who have suicidal thoughts are experiencing depression, most depressed people are not suicidal. Therefore, the public needs to understand how depression indirectly impacts suicidality, whereas other factors are more directly related to suicide risk.”

The best treatments that help people recover from a suicidal crisis address the experiences and reasons that people have for feeling like death is a good option, he said.

For more information, call the Depression Center at 502-588-4886.

Clifford Kuhn, MD, known as the Laugh Doctor, will present “New Perspectives on Humor and Healing” at 7 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 3701 Old Brownsboro Road. The event is part of the “Building Hope” lecture series sponsored by the .

Attendees will learn how to share humor when laughter is not appropriate or welcome and create a reliable mindset for experiencing humor more frequently.

Even without laughter, humor can significantly reduce stress, boost the immune response, relieve pain, decrease anxiety, enhance communication skills and sustain resilience, which are factors in improved health and healing, Kuhn said.

“Humor causes us to experience a pleasant form of surrender, which gets us out of our own way and makes room for natural healing processes, such as regeneration and growth,” said Kuhn, clinical professor in the  Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

A psychiatrist who has researched humor’s physiological and psychological power, Kuhn has been a School of Medicine faculty member since 1974 and is a professional speaker, trainer, personal coach and author. His book, “,” is a guide on the use of humor to overcome stress and fear, survive grief and setbacks and heal the body and mind.

The presentation is supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Laura M. Frey, PhD, a licensed marriage and family therapist and assistant professor at the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work, will present “Getting More Than ‘Good:’ Strategies to Encourage Meaningful Discussion with Kids.” The event is part of the “Building Hope” public lecture series sponsored by the UofL Depression Center and will be held at 7 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 3701 Old Brownsboro Rd.

“Many people wonder at what age it’s appropriate to discuss sensitive topics with their children,” Frey said. “Keeping the lines of communication open are important for ensuring kids get accurate information and that they’ll reach out to us when issues arise.”

The University of Louisville Depression Center is Kentuckiana’s leading resource for depression and bipolar disorder treatment, research and education. It is a charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, a consortium of leading depression centers that develops and fosters connections among members to advance scientific discovery and provide stigma-free, evidence-based care to patients with depressive and bipolar illnesses.

For more information, contact the Depression Center at 502-588-4886.

David A. Casey, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Louisville, will present “Maintaining Your Brain: Tips on preserving thinking and memory with the aging process.” The event is part of the “Building Hope” public lecture series sponsored by the UofL Depression Center and will be held at 7 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 3701 Old Brownsboro Rd.

Casey will discuss lifestyle changes that can be helpful to maintain brain processes. He also will explain how optimal management of medical conditions can help preserve brain power.

Board-certified in both general psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry, Casey joined the UofL faculty in 1985 and was named chair in 2015. His research interests are focused on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, geriatric depression, psychiatric education and the history of psychiatry. He practices with UofL Physicians-Psychiatry.