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A WELL WORLD: Just being myself
If we are honest, each of us deals with emotional or mental upheaval from time to time. Most of us have had stretches of sadness or depression. Sometimes our joy or excitement borders on euphoria. When we are tired or under a lot of stress, our thoughts can get jumbled or confused. These episodes are a normal part of being human. Over time we learn […]
Schizoaffective Disorder and the Well: A member’s thoughts
Rita attended the Well Community for many years. Health issues prevent her from participating now, but she still keeps up with her friends at the Well. She calls in from time to time to to say hi to everyone. Her thoughts about the Well captured in this video are still echoed by members living with severe mental health disorders like schizoaffective disorder.
Schizoaffective Disorder: Five Things to Know About a Less-Common, Life-Altering Mental Illness
In addition to relatively well-known serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder is another life-altering condition that’s unknown to many. But those who live with schizoaffective disorder are well-acquainted with the challenges it brings. Schizoaffective disorder is relatively rare, impacting three people in every thousand. Since it’s less common than many other serious mental health challenges, there are many things […]
A Well World: No Labels
Sometimes I find it easy to lump people into categories or attach labels and then to make assumptions about them. I suspect we all do. However, over the years I’ve been working at the Well Community, I have come to realize how terribly unfair, unjust and unkind labels can be. A member told me that after he received a diagnosis for the mental health disorder […]
Five Key Truths About Men’s Mental Health
Though approximately one in five men lives with mental illness, their mental health is often downplayed or overlooked. The National Alliance on Mental Illness puts it this way: Just as the body needs care and attention, so does emotional and mental well-being. Yet, there is a silent crisis in men’s mental health — one that too often goes unnoticed or unspoken. June, Men’s Mental Health […]
A WELL WORLD: Do you know?
May is a month full of reasons to celebrate. Mother’s Day. Graduations. Pool openings. It is also the month we celebrate the growing awareness the public has about mental health. For generations, mental illnesses have been grossly misunderstood, misdiagnosed and mistreated. However, with breakthrough treatments and the intentional efforts of various agencies, individuals and the media, truths about mental health conditions are gaining awareness. We […]
An Eye-Opening Experience
As so many of our volunteers discover, serving at the Well Community leads to awareness of mental illness that’s far deeper than statistics and facts. We talked with Tammy Nguyen about her experience with volunteering at the Well as a Baylor Nursing student. What does your time at the Well Community typically look like? My time at the Well has involved spending time with members, […]
More Than Facts: Mental Health Statistics That Impact Us All
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But what, exactly, do we need to be aware of? Below are some must-know statistics about mental illnesses in the United States. Understanding them is vital because each represents real people and issues that are far more than numbers on a page or a screen. And they don’t only affect those who’ve been diagnosed with mental health conditions: They […]
A Well World: Based on Faith
A distinctive of the Well Community is that we offer holistic care for those dealing with severe mental health issues. Beyond addressing physical and emotional needs, we undergird all our programs to also tend to the spiritual needs of our members. Recently we had several special opportunities to do so. For Ash Wednesday, with friends from Kessler Park United Methodist Church, we had a solemn […]
Well Members as Spiritual Beings
Although the Well Community offers activities, programs and services to adults living with severe mental health issues, its most important mission is to foster a community that is welcoming, caring and safe. It is a place to belong for those who find closed doors more often than open ones and stigma more often than acceptance. “At the Well,” says Executive Director Alice Zacarello, “we offer […]