Submitted by PeaceHealth Medical Center

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center launches its fall series of Fireside Chats on Thursday, Oct. 13, with the topic “Total Wellness: How body and mind work together for better health outcomes.” The chat, led by Gary Waters, MSW, Ed.S., DBH, is from 4 to 5 p.m. in the medical center’s main lobby. There is no fee to participate.

Fireside Chats are free community education sessions offered by PeaceHealth Peace Island on the second Thursday of the month through the end of the year. Future dates and topics are the following:

On Nov. 10, “Understanding self-harm and suicide: Causes, effects and treatments for this major health concern.”

On Dec. 8, “The holidays are crazy: A discussion of feelings and emotions.”

All sessions are from 4 to 5 p.m. and are led by Waters, a behavioral health social worker at PeaceHealth Peace Island. He has experience in educational psychology, clinical social work, family therapy and chemical dependency treatment.

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center comprises a 10-bed critical access hospital, primary care and specialty clinics, a cancer center, expanded diagnostic and treatment services, an operating suite for outpatient procedures and a 24-hour emergency department. PeaceHealth Peace Island operates as part of PeaceHealth’s Northwest Network, which includes PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, PeaceHealth United General Medical Center in Sedro-Woolley, several PeaceHealth Medical Group primary care and specialty clinics, cardiovascular and cancer centers, diagnostic laboratory and imaging services. PeaceHealth, with medical centers in Alaska, Washington and Oregon, is a not-for-profit health care system founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1891.