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Four Major Depression Myths
It’s among the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 8% of Americans each year. But in spite of its prevalence, major depression is often misunderstood—and these major depression myths hurt those who are struggling by compounding stigma and discouraging these individuals from seeking help. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately four in 10 individuals who experience major depression over the course of […]
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Scrapping Seven Myths About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental illnesses. It’s also among the most misunderstood. This serious, chronic disease can cause hallucinations, delusions and difficulty concentrating, as well as social withdrawal and emotional unresponsiveness. And, due to misunderstandings about this condition, those who are already struggling often deal with social prejudice as well.
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Busting 10 Myths About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that impacts nearly 6 million Americans every year. It causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood and energy. These highs and lows, known as mania and depression, impact the ability to think and function. Misconceptions about bipolar disorder abound, and many aren’t harmless misunderstandings. Below are 10 common myths that hurt those dealing with bipolar disorder—and the facts.
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A Well World: A Place of Belonging for All
The things that typically separate so many segments of society, such as race, gender and politics, deeply impact members of the Well Community. But not inside the Well. There, they are united by one specific thing: the common experiences of those who navigate life under the cloud of severe mental illness. Though they are a diverse group, our members share similar struggles and are bound […]
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Stealing Options: How Poverty and Mental Illness Erode Opportunity
It was obvious that Toby* wanted to work. When he came to the Well Community, he always stepped in without being asked, offering to take out the trash and do odd jobs. But each time the Well staff offered him a job at the Well, he turned it down, never giving a reason why. Finally, they learned why Toby kept saying no: He didn’t have […]
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At Every Level: How Mental Illness Steals Margin to Meet Needs
No area of life goes untouched by a serious mental illness. It interferes with every need we have as humans, starting with the most essential requirements for survival. And, when these needs aren’t met, those living with these disorders are robbed of the capacity to take steps toward mental health stability. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides a framework that categorizes the things all of us […]
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A Well World: A Great Retreat
Our annual spring retreat was a great success as always, and as always it couldn’t have happened without the generous scholarships provided by our kind friends. My grateful thanks to all. Alice
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Becoming Aware
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here is a firsthand account from a parent of one of our members as she shares how she has grown in understanding about mental illness over her lifetime. She updated this for us from one of her previously published blogs. By Catherine Downing I first became aware of mental illness when I was about 9 years old. I overheard […]
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Mental Illness: Not an Adjective
Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to learn about how our words can contribute to stigma—especially when we use the names of mental illnesses and symptoms as adjectives. Though our society has become more open about speaking about mental health and more conscious of how our words can perpetuate stigma, a sneaky type of language often still pops up. It’s one that can […]
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Well World: Hope of Heaven
It’s that time of the year when the Christian community focuses on eternal things. We are reminded of Christ’s death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter, which also has us thinking about the hope of heaven. At the Well Community, our minds have been on that especially this week as we grieve the death of one of our favorite and long-serving volunteers. Ann […]
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