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 with lived experience in their communities. But they cannot help with advice on how to help people spiritually. Spiritual support is harder than anything to come by now-a-days.

According to psychiatrist Harold Koenig, M.D., “God is especially close to those who are suffering with mental health problems.” . . . Or they are hungry for him. I know that full well from personal experience, in my own life and in the lives of others. Nowhere have I found God come up in conversation as frequently as he did among my fellow patients when I was on a mental health ward in hospital in 2015. They longed for the kind of unconditional love Jesus was reported to be able to give them. They longed for his peace.

Encouragement in our faith is more important to our mental wellbeing than any other single factor. Although medical care is necessary for most of us, having faith in God and his unconditional love is for many just as important. Learning about Jesus and how he accepted those who were being rejected in his world, helps us see that he accepts us in the same way, despite the rejection we might be feeling. That alone is great encouragement.

But faith needs to be nourished with regular feedings from scripture, best provided by individuals who hold Jesus and his love up as their example. And Living Room peer support groups are the best places to find such support, though at the present time, there are only three left that I know of. They are places where you’ll find out that you’re not alone and where you can discuss with others how your faith could help you with your mental health struggles:

Three small groups are not enough to serve the many who need spiritual mental health support. The Living Room movement must return. The difficult work of developing more such groups is being worked out today. The call has gone out for helpers to get this movement started again. Please email me if you are interested at marja@marjabergen.com.

In 2013, an extension of Living Room was created in the form of devotionals, Reflections on God’s Word. These try, as much as possible, to give what groups offer, but in written form. They are sent out via email on Monday and Thursday mornings. Fill out the form in the sidebar to the right if you would like to be on the list. When you’re on that list you will also hear how the Living Room ministry—this time in a new interfaith form (Living Room’s Open Door)—is starting to rebuild and learn how you could help out.

Throughout my story in the book, ONE SUCH AS ME, you will read about the hope I held out for Living Room to continue as a firmly established ongoing ministry. This hope is still alive. Please read the book. It provides inspiration for those who would like to get involved. With God all things are possible. This has been proven true and can become true again.

marja