WHAT IS IT? Spiritual mental health support had its beginnings in 2006 when I founded the faith-based Living Room peer support ministry. This was at a time when the Christian Church knew very little about mental health and those with symptoms were often made to feel ashamed, told that there was a problem with their […]
Read More...The following piece was written from the perspective of a person needing care. Have you ever needed care in the way this person did? How would you like to have someone like the Samaritan looking after you? Can you imagine how good it would be to have someone like him—someone so much like Jesus—taking care […]
Read More...MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CHURCH It’s wonderful how much work is being done to raise mental health awareness in the Church today. At the beginning of this century there was so much ignorance that individuals with mental health issues were leaving their churches because of the hurt inflicted on them by fellow Christians who told […]
Read More...FAITH-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Christians and their churches in Canada have been learning about mental health—the various illnesses and how they present themselves in those who live with them. They learn to accept and support the individuals in their church who live with such challenges. They learn how to respond to their needs. But have […]
Read More...CHRISTIAN SUPPORT – In her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver relates Robert Boyd Munger’s story about how he showed Christ around his house room by room. When they got to the drawing room they both liked it best and decided to meet and start every day together in this room. They […]
Read More...LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR When we decide to follow Jesus, we are called to be like him. To do what he would do. To say the kinds of things that he would say. To love as he loved. But how could we possibly emulate a person as remarkable as Jesus? Many of us feel inferior […]
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 – In his book, Faith and Mental Health, Harold Koenig, M.D. wrote that mental illness could be viewed as a gift. “It can sensitize the emotionally or mentally ill person to the pain and suffering of others, uniquely equipping them with the insight and ability to help.” Through our own needs […]
Read More...LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR – A humble facilitator is the key to an effective faith-based mental health support group. By modelling vulnerability and candidly revealing pain and insecurities, facilitators can encourage the entire group to do the same. Honestly sharing faith and doubt, hope and despair, joy and sadness with others helps bring members of […]
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. […]
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