“Friendship arises out of mere companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one.’” – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
The above quote captures an everyday occurrence at the Well Community. As new people stop in, they immediately connect with others who “get them.” Those who live with severe mental illnesses share many of the same challenges: isolation, medication side effects, stigma, poverty, homelessness, hopelessness, estrangement and more. But oddly, many think they are alone in their struggles. They don’t know there are many others who share the same burdens.
Among all the services we provide at the Well, none is more important than helping each participant understand they are not alone. In fact, what they face is actually pretty common. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in our country experience mental illness. However, one in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illnesses (such as bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia) each year. Among our members it is 20 in 20.
At the Well Community there is a common understanding of the hard things of life and a generous sharing of how to navigate them. Here there is an eagerness to come alongside each other and share the journey or lighten the load. Here companionship blossoms into authentic friendships between people who have walked many miles in each other’s shoes.