Stay Updated on Latest News from the Well Community
Dual Diagnosis: A Compounding Challenge
Walter* came to The Well ready to be honest about his struggles. When he showed up for the first time, he told Well Community staff that he was coming off of methamphetamines and struggled with alcohol; he was addicted, he said, and ravenous. Walter willingly poured out his alcohol, and three Well Community staff members stayed with him as he ate two lunches and shared […]
Read More
A Well World: We Need One Another
No man is an island, No man stands alone, Each man’s joy is joy to me, Each man’s grief is my own We need one another. So begins Joan Baez’s adaptation of John Donne’s brief 1624 poem. The words are simple but profound, and they express a basic value of The Well Community: No one is alone. “Community” is what we do. Being connected […]
Read More
Benchmarks of Success for the Outreach Program
Different Benchmarks of success for the Outreach Program In today’s society, we are often driven by benchmarks or goals in our places of work: visible signals of success such as raises, promotions and title changes or milestones like significant increases in productivity or meeting a new sales goal. These hefty standards drive the workforce, especially in the corporate sphere. To many, these markers feel like […]
Read More
Meeting Neighbors Where They Are
Anita Green refers to them as “neighbors.” It’s a term she uses to let those experiencing homelessness know that they’re still part of the community. “It takes a lot of the stigma away,” she explains. This attitude—one of seeing individuals on the street as members of the community—is central to her work as Outreach Manager at The Well. Her critical role in the Outreach Program, […]
Read More
Depression: Hard Facts About a Common Struggle
National Suicide Prevention hotline: 800-273-8255 It’s about as prevalent as asthma, but often it’s spoken of far less openly. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI) ,about 21 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. Also know as major depression, this condition is characterized by feelings of sadness or loss of interest for at least two weeks, and […]
Read More
A Well World: In the Shadow of Illness
Health is on our minds a lot these days. With COVID-19, with the delta variant, with RSV continuing to threaten and to scare, we are all evermore aware of the need to protect ourselves and others the best we can. These ever-looming contagions have taken center stage for 18 months. The warnings are constant; the impact is devastating. In the U.S., nearly 40 million people […]
Read More
Help Wanted: Resource Center Coordinator
At The Well Community the interdependency between mental health and physical health is obvious every day. This connection can’t be overstated (see An Interconnected Challenge: Physical Health in the Shadow of Mental Illness). That’s why The Well offers holistic care for its members. In addition to addressing emotional needs such as isolation, depression or loneliness, The Well serves its members’ spiritual, cognitive and physical well-being. In […]
Read More
An Interconnected Challenge: Physical Health in the Shadow of Mental Illness
Mental health challenges impact far more than the brain. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), individuals living with a serious mental illness have an increased risk for chronic disease—in some cases, a greatly elevated risk. For example, they are nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular and metabolic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. And, adding to this struggle are […]
Read More
A Well World: Family Needs
I’m guessing at least five times a week I get a call from a parent, sibling, spouse or friend who is looking for help for someone in a mental health crisis. The calls are panicked. The questions are desperate. They are looking for housing, for medical intervention, for compassion and understanding. Some of the time I have answers handy. Most of the time I can […]
Read More
Supporting Families
Families with loved ones dealing with mental health issues often find housing to be one of the greatest challenges. Jacob’s House, The Well’s City of Dallas licensed boarding home for men, is one way The Well supports families. By providing affordable, safe housing within an understanding and accepting community, The Well gives families peace of mind knowing their loved one is off the streets and […]
Read More