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A Firsthand Understanding: Lessons About Mental Health During COVID-19
May is Mental Health Awareness month. We want to help you become more informed, not only about severe mental illnesses faced by our members, but also about how the stresses of COVID-19 can impact your mental health and what you can do about it. While the mental health ramifications of COVID-19 make this pandemic a crisis in and of themselves, there is a benefit hidden […]
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A Well World: Look for the Helpers
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” – Fred Rogers You have probably seen this quote often in the last month or so. I have seen it too, but not just on social media. I have seen it alive, up […]
Read MoreExtraordinary Times
Much of what we are facing in this season of isolation, fear of scarcity and compromised health are daily struggles for members of The Well Community. As those whose lives are marked by severe and chronic mental illnesses, they have even greater challenges in avoiding and combating COVID-19.
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When Mental Illness and Poverty Intertwine
As if navigating life with a severe mental illness doesn’t create enough challenges, mental health difficulties often result in an array of additional debilitating hurdles. Because many living with mental illnesses do not have the ability to hold a job, poverty is often a constant companion. With poverty comes homelessness, poor health and insufficient nutrition, not to mention the less visible struggles with stigma and […]
Read MoreAnd You Can Help!
We are all scrambling to serve each other during the COVID-19 health crisis. At The Well Community we have had to suspend our Community Life Center group gatherings and our Thursday Night Life worship service. But we have not stopped serving our members who already have insurmountable challenges as they manage daily life through the lens of mental illness. One of the greatest needs they […]
Read MoreMental Illness and Poverty: Magnifying Challenges in Times of Crisis
Health crises like the coronavirus pandemic impact us all. But, those who live with serious mental illnesses face unique challenges in times like this. Not only can uncertainty and fear trigger worsening of symptoms, but lack of access to things like healthy food, shelter and medical care can lead to a higher risk of illness. The poverty faced by many who deal with life-altering mental […]
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A WELL WORLD: Lessons Learned in Uncertain Times
During these uncertain times, when all routines are disrupted and we have more questions than answers, I find it helpful to consider the plight of others to keep from focusing only on my own challenges. In a recent conversation with our Board Chairman, Jeff Lane, we talked about social distancing and social isolation. He had some great insights on how these relate to members of […]
Read MoreThe End of Over a Decade of Homelessness
After suddenly losing his job over a decade ago, Anthony felt something inside him break. He soon found himself homeless, sleeping in a park or abandoned building. He recalls the street as a place where everyone wants to be somewhere else, but no one knows how to move away from their present situation.
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Housing in the Pursuit of Stability
So often, the challenges of housing insecurity and the struggles of living with mental illness compound one another. The daily issues faced by those without stable housing situations make it difficult for them to pursue mental health stability; likewise, dealing with a mental health condition can impede their ability to take steps toward more stable living conditions. Housing is truly a foundational issue in addressing […]
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A Well World: Continuing the Conversation
Just a few short years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that famous figures ranging from musicians to athletes would be openly sharing how they’ve wrestled with mental illness. We’ve made great progress as a society in increasing awareness of mental health conditions and tearing down the stigma that often surrounds them. Yet, this stigma still overshadows the suffering of the one in […]
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