A free community forum on mental health will be held Saturday in Chaska. The forum will feature a keynote address titled "Introduction to Mental Illness: Depression and Anxiety," followed by a question-and-answer session.

The speaker will be Kay King, a state trainer for the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Her talk will explain the symptoms and risk factors of anxiety disorders and depression in adults. It will also cover the warning signs of suicide, and strategies to help someone in crisis.

The forum will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Drive in Chaska.

Organizers said the event is meant to be a starting point for recognizing and responding to depression and anxiety.

It is the second community forum sponsored by the Mental Health Consortium, formed last year by the Carver County Mental Health Crisis Program in response to concerns about recent suicide deaths and attempts in surrounding communities.

Tom Meersman

@stribmeers