Stay Updated on Latest News from the Well Community
A Well World: Support in Every Season
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That famous phrase sums up 2025 for members of the Well Community. There were many bright moments: retreats, Thursday Night Life, daily devotions, games, crafts, life-skills training and shared meals. Members found friendship, compassion and understanding—a rare refuge from the poverty, stigma and isolation that come with severe mental illness. These moments of […]
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The Gift of Seeing
Well Community members sometimes tell us that in the larger community, they feel invisible. This is sad evidence of one of the greatest harms of serious mental health conditions: They rob people of being truly seen. So often, the symptoms of their diseases create barriers that make it hard for them to be known as more than their illnesses and to experience the blessings of […]
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A Well World: Greatly Grateful
As we pause this Thanksgiving season to consider what we’re grateful for, I’m struck by the abundance of truly incredible reasons we have for giving thanks this year. And so, as we reflect, I’d like to share some of these reasons with you and invite you to join in our gratitude:
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Inviting Greater Impact
The Well was honored to receive a generous donation from civil engineering firm Pape-Dawson as part of the company’s efforts to “give back.” We recently talked with Andrew Finney, a land planner at Pape-Dawson, about his experience volunteering at the Well and why he chose to nominate the Well Community to benefit from his employer’s charitable foundation. How did you first hear about the Well […]
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From Caregiver to Caregiver: Doable Tips for Navigating the Holidays
Jessica, a friend of the Well Community who cares for her dad, shares practical tips for caregivers during the holidays. It’s a little ironic that the season that’s hyped as the most wonderful time of the year can be one of the most stressful and complicated—perhaps especially for caregivers of those living with mental illnesses. The routines and support systems we rely on are often […]
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A Well World: A Spooky Celebration of Community
All year long, friends of the Well Community give of themselves, their time and their resources so that our members can enjoy a place of belonging and support. But each October, many of them gather in a special way to give together—and have a blast while doing it.
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Monster Mash: Generous Fun
“Before the Well Community began meeting at our church, Cliff Temple Baptist, I was teaching Sunday school, and Joel Pulis* started bringing a couple of people to my class who turned out to be some of the first Well members.” Ever since these early days, Jeff and his wife, Violet, (and often with their daughters) have been “full on” as volunteers and donors for the […]
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Breaking Down Stigma Through Personal Interaction
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 […]
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A Well World: Saving Lives
There are many adjectives and descriptors we use related to the Well Community. Welcoming, safe, accepting, stigma-free, hope-filled, friendly and “a place to belong” are just a few. I think there is one more term we could add: lifesaving. For over two decades the Well has brought to those living with severe mental illnesses an escape from the loneliness they often endure. Fellowship, friendship and […]
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Community: A Key to Saving Lives From Suicide
In our increasingly connected world, isolation and loneliness are becoming more and more common. But, they’re especially prevalent struggles for those living with mental illnesses, and they can have particularly devastating consequences: Both mental health challenges and lack of connection to others increase a person’s risk of suicide.
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