One of the most important ways in which people with mental health challenges can be supported is by hearing of the unconditional love of Jesus and of how he values them, despite the way the world might be treating them. Those for whom life is easier, could never understand that message in the same way. […]
Read More...Tulips at Keukenhof Gardens in Holland LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR – All members of the Living Room Open Door faith-based peer support groups, including the facilitator, have suffered, or are suffering from mental health issues. It’s this commonality that pulls them together. Groups are not led by professionals and don’t offer clinical therapy. They don’t […]
Read More...THE OPEN DOOR – Faith in Someone greater than ourselves can bring us a sense of well-being that isn’t available elsewhere. Not with medication nor endless counselling. Faith can help us develop the following: A sense of hope A reason for living Strength to cope with hardships Confidence Relief from anxiety, stress, and fear Ability […]
Read More...INTRODUCING A NEW INTERFAITH MINISTRY Living Room’s Open Door is a faith-based peer ministry offering group support for individuals who share struggles with mental health challenges. The groups recognize the connection between spirituality and mental well-being and the two are addressed together as part of our meetings. Members of such groups have found great comfort […]
Read More...MY PERSPECTIVE – There is a large organization not far away, promising Christian churches that it will equip them to respond to people with lived experience. They teach the ins and outs of mental health and have been doing so for over ten years, offering free online courses about its various aspects. They speak with […]
Read More...MY PERSPECTIVE – It’s truly amazing what God can do! I wrote the following piece as an introduction to a photo booklet I created, with uplifting psalms that I found in my Bible. I started work on it after talking to someone on the crisis line – something I did quite often during the years […]
Read More...CLOSER TO HIM – Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. “All things have been committed to me by my […]
Read More...COMPASSION – And today I wonder. Does all this fussing about rebuilding Living room come from my will and not God’s at all? Am I trying to push my own will, in memory of how good the experience of Living Room used to be? Is it because of the Holy Joy I always felt after […]
Read More...LIVING ROOM – Some thoughts for churches who wish to learn how to give support to individuals with lived experience in their communities: Learn what you can from the https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/ They have valuable resources, designed to equip churches with the ins and outs of mental health—what they need to know about being there for individuals […]
Read More...ONE SUCH AS ME? finally brought to light. In 2011, an organization was founded in Vancouver that promised to equip churches and parishes to support mental health recovery within their community. They did this by providing online courses that explained the ins and outs of mental health. Churches were delighted to have information that improved […]
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