We often talk about the many myths surrounding mental illness and how these misconceptions play a role in perpetuating stigma: negative thoughts, attitudes and assumptions about a person because he or she lives with a mental health condition. Knowing the truth is important because misinformation impacts not only thoughts but actions, often leading to discrimination, avoidance and unkindness.
But, while stigma is often attributed to a lack of understanding about mental illnesses, simply addressing misunderstandings doesn’t always eliminate the harm they can cause. Replacing stigma with understanding and kindness often involves getting a little more personal.
In a 2024 news release on The Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, the World Health Organization reported on the power of simply spending time with people who live with mental health challenges:
“The best way to reduce stigma is through social contact – prejudice-reducing interactions between people living with mental health conditions and people without a condition. While social contact may involve correcting misinformation, the focus is on changing attitudes and improving behaviour. Often, this involves having someone share their experiences of living with a mental health condition, balancing frank descriptions of past suffering with clear demonstrations of recovery and resilience.”
Through these interactions, people who haven’t personally experienced mental illnesses gain not only knowledge about these conditions but understanding of the ways they impact real people’s lives on a daily basis. It’s from this understanding that empathy grows and prejudice shrinks.
According to The Lancet Commission, this social contact can come in numerous forms, some as simple as watching a video of someone sharing their story of life with mental illness. But there’s no substitute for the power of in-person connection and listening, face to face, to people who know firsthand what it’s like to struggle with their mental health.
The power of personal interaction is something our volunteers know well. Oscar Brown, who regularly serves the men of Jacob’s House, our group home for men, told us how being welcomed and accepted by the residents of the home has reshaped his perspective. “It broke down all of those misconceptions that I grew up with,” he shares.
Cyler Deisler, who discovered the joy of volunteering at the Well Community as a high schooler, has had a similar experience: “I’ve learned they are people just like everyone else. They’re just normal people and you should just be nice, respectful, no matter what.”
The power of volunteering in reshaping attitudes and fostering understanding is one of the reasons numerous groups choose to serve together at the Well. Abbey Adcox, who volunteered with her son and has gotten other mothers and sons to serve at the Well through her involvement with the Oak Cliff Chapter of the Young Men’s Service League, explains, “My hope is that [our sons] come away with [an] increased comfort level as they meet and interact with others who live with mental illness. This gives them the opportunity to destigmatize mental illness and really see the person they are speaking with.”
This opportunity is one of the reasons our volunteers often invite their friends and families to serve along with them. “We feel like we’re teaching [our children and grandchildren] that there are people out there who struggle, but they’re people just like us,” explains Carol Arbuckle, who’s been joined at the Well by many members of her extended clan. “That’s been a neat gift to our family.”
We’re grateful that as our volunteers serve our members, they experience this gift and can share it with others! And we’d love to welcome you, your family or your church, work or friend group as volunteers at the Well Community. Click here to learn more about opportunities to serve.