This talk reviews the stresses we all endured during 2020, and how they affected most people, as related to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and addiction.  These disorders were reviewed during the talk, as Peter has been a mental health professional for over 35 years and has integrated his psychotherapy practice with Buddhism.  These problems were associated with the First and Second Noble Truths, Dukkha and the Causes of Dukkha, identified as attachment to a view that life should be predictable and controllable, which was significantly affected by the societal disruption resulting from the pandemic and the political controversies.  This was followed by discussion among those participating in the Zoom meeting, including an individual who was made severely ill by the COVID-19 virus.  The talk next week will focus on the Third and Fourth Noble Truths, Liberation from Dukkha and the Noble Eightfold Path and will associate mindfulness meditation to addressing the mental health problems mentioned above.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Buddhism and Mental Health