Stay Updated on Latest News from the Well Community
The Well Community to Honor Diann Warnock and NAMI North Dallas
The past year has demonstrated with striking clarity that The Well isn’t a place: It’s a community. It’s comprised of people who support and care for one another through the countless challenges of life with serious mental illnesses, and of the many who come alongside them through service, generosity and advocacy. As we celebrate the power of community at our virtual WellSpring Celebration on April […]
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A Well World: A Family for Everyone
I was so pleased recently when the seven residents of Jacob’s House piled into the van to go get their COVID-19 vaccines. They seemed genuinely glad to go on the outing, even if it was just a trip to the clinic together. In the van there was laughter and affirming camaraderie. Seeing that reminded me of when my siblings and I were loaded up […]
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We are a Family: Jacob’s House
Jacob’s House is situated on a tree-lined street in Oak Cliff. From the outside it looks like the other older homes in the neighborhood, with a large porch and a fenced front yard. On pleasant days, several men gather outside to “shoot the breeze,” play card games or wave at passersby. There is a comfortableness among them—a sense that they are at home. And they […]
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Seven Myths About Mental Illness and Homelessness
Living with a mental illness presents serious challenges when a person has stable housing. But, when an individual living with a mental health condition is without a safe, stable place to live, their struggles are multiplied. Mental illness and homelessness are compounding issues that can contribute to one another and create a cycle that makes it incredibly difficult for those caught in it to pursue […]
Read MoreA Well World: Every One of You
I have to say, I liked snow a lot better when I was a child! Somehow, as an adult, the weight of responsibility is much heavier than the snow that piles up on rooftops. Thankfully neither Jacob’s House nor my own had any broken pipes. We did have to navigate around some power outages, but none that put anyone in harm’s way. Last week, in […]
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This 75208 Zip Code
David Spence and his development business, Good Space, Inc., are longtime friends of The Well Community. His history in nonprofit work prompted interest in The Well when he was first introduced to it by a friend at church, Well advocate Vickie Fisk. The ministry piqued his curiosity because, since its founding in 1995, Good Space has been fully focused on the Bishop Arts district of […]
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Helpings of Comfort at Jacob’s House
Every Sunday evening the men of Jacob’s House, the Well Community’s boarding home for men, enjoy a home-cooked meal, prepared with love and delivered with smiles. These family-style suppers, made by real-life relatives Suzan and Phil Sprinkle and their daughter, Caitlin, provide not only nourishment but a hearty helping of care and connection. As Caitlin says, “It’s an opportunity to count our blessings and share […]
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A Well World: Wonder-ful Land
After I got the news, I began to look through our photo archive. There were dozens of pictures of Delores, all with engaging smiles that made me chuckle amid my tears. One of our “original” members, she’s present in photos from Christmas parties, retreats, daily activities, Thursday Night Life services. Delores passed away this week from COVID-19, but she left behind family and the entire […]
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20 Ways You Might be Unknowingly Perpetuating Stigma
Stigma can be described as: “when someone, or even you yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition.”* It causes those living with mental health struggles to experience a sense of shame and judgement and to feel defined by their illnesses rather than seen as people.
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How Stigma Hurts Everyone
In recent years, our culture has become more aware of the harm that stigma inflicts on those living with mental illness. Negative attitudes, discrimination and prejudice again those dealing with mental health challenges can not only be hurtful, but can prevent these individuals from seeking help as well as from securing jobs, finding housing and forming relationships. However, this stigma touches far more than merely […]
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