PROMOTING LIVING ROOM IN THE WORLD My most recent book, One Such as Me, published in 2024 tells about how I gave birth to the Living Room ministry and the spiritual mental health support it offered. It was a ministry that brought the news of Christ’s unconditional love to those who felt rejected by the […]
Read More...Mental Health Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is prevalent in the world today as a way through which psychologists are helping individuals and communities recover from crises and adverse events. It’s much needed in the chaotic world of today—by refugees and others affected by conflict and disasters. MHPSS includes support for dealing with interpersonal problems, emotional […]
Read More...UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Perhaps the problem with Christianity today and why it is so hard for people to embrace it is that Jesus is thought of in terms too narrow for people to understand or accept. In the work I do I make the Living Room spiritual mental health groups available to all faiths, I present […]
Read More...Photo: Showkutara with her Living Room group at the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh MY REFLECTION When I first thought of starting a Living Room group, I did not plan to facilitate it myself. I wanted to help organize it but thought another person would have to facilitate. I could not imagine myself in that […]
Read More...Photo by Rohim Ullah I recently read an article entitled The Architecture of Rohingya Exclusion by Shafiur Rahman, published in the September 16, 2025 edition of United Against Humanity. The following is an excerpt. It is a statement I wish I had seen earlier so that I could have commented on it before the September […]
Read More...FOR SPIRITUAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Go to the Introduction to Living Room and how it can bring healing to Rohingya and to all who suffer from discrimination and persecution. STEP BY STEP GUIDANCE 1. FIND A FACILITATOR WHO IS: – a person with a strong faith who has compassion for hurting people. 2. FIND A CO-FACILITATOR – with qualities […]
Read More...FAITH-BASED PEER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS All members of Living Room peer support groups, including the facilitator, have experienced, or are experiencing mental health issues. It’s this commonality that pulls them together. Groups are not led by professionals and don’t offer clinical therapy. Groups for Rohingya men and women provide social support, but […]
Read More...PEER SUPPORT GROUPS Most of my work in past years has been to address the spiritual mental health needs of my readers. Through my writings, I’ve tried to encourage those dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and any other problems individuals might be dealing with. Most of us experience some form of mental health difficulties at […]
Read More...LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR One of our greatest fears as Open Door facilitators is what we’re going to do when depression hits. How are we going to measure up to our responsibilities? We don’t want to let anyone down. It’s hard to commit to anything when you struggle with mental health challenges. You never know […]
Read More...LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to have a Living Room group meeting in every neighborhood? An Open Door where you could go when you’re troubled or hurting and need to be with those who would understand—those who would listen when you have things to tell—brothers and sisters all. […]
Read More...© 2026 Marja Bergen
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