In 1993, the Vancouver Sun published Marja Bergen’s article, “Sick, but No One Brought Me Flowers.” It was a story about her time as a patient at Riverview Hospital. This was her first coming out and she never looked back.
The stigma of mental illness angered her. She saw how it affected the lives of people who, like herself, were already suffering from illness. It was so unfair! Fighting this injustice became a passion for her, one that she would give the rest of her life to.
Her primary purpose was to raise awareness in the Christian church. What better way to find acceptance for individuals with mental health problems than through the faithful who followed Jesus Christ. What better place to fill their need for love than through Jesus who ate with the outcasts of his society?
Despite her own struggles with bipolar disorder, Marja worked hard to reach out and educate. It was a lonely battle, but she knew she wasn’t alone with it. This was God’s work and he was giving her the courage and strength she needed.
She wrote books, articles, and kept an active blog. She presented at several conferences, and was a guest on 100 Huntley Street. She gave first-person accounts about what it means to be a Christian living with a mental illness.
The year 2006 marked the beginning of an innovative peer support ministry she called Living Room. Marja had seen the need for a place where Christians with mental health challenges could gather with others for support and to share their faith. Churches at that point were uninformed about mental illness, and were too often hurting rather than helping people with illness.
The Living Room Story: Pioneering Mental Health Awareness in the Church tells this story with the eager voice of a woman who had the courage to step out and be open about her mental health challenges. She made the world a better place for others like her.
It is hoped that readers will be inspired by this story of peer support, considering it as a ministry God might be calling them to.
Click to see the cover of The Living Room Story: Pioneering Mental Health Awareness in the Church
New book released February 2, 2021
The Living Room Story: Pioneering Mental Health Awareness in the Church
Marja Bergen
ISBN 9781034289869
6” x 9” 146 pages
Contact Marja Bergen
marja@marjabergen.com