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...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...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 […]
Read More...A MULTI-FAITH LIVING ROOM? – What good would spiritual mental health support be if it were only given to people of one faith? How unfair it would be if people needing support were to be excluded from the Living Room experience. Excluded from the knowledge of the unconditional love Jesus has for us. Both in […]
Read More...REVIVING LIVING ROOM Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Have you ever invented something that has never existed before? Perhaps even drawing it up on paper or making a prototype? But maybe you thought it would be impossible to make it a reality, though you did […]
Read More...REVIVAL – In February 2009, I emailed my pastor. I quoted some of it in my book, at one point telling him how I had talked with a couple of influential people about the future of Living Room: “We talked about Living Room’s similarities to how AA developed. I think there’s much we can learn […]
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