Stay Updated on Latest News from the Well Community
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 […]
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 […]
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.
What Our Members Like Best About the Well
On a recent Wednesday morning at our Community Life Center, we asked several of our members, “What do you like about the Well?” Their answers capture the core reasons that the Well Community exists, and we’d like to share some of them with you. “You help out with us, and you all treat us nice and you all understand us.” “It’s a positive environment.” […]
A Well World: Your Community and Ours
At the Well we emphasize “community” as a central focus of our ministry. We believe that it is in the company of others that we grow, learn and enjoy the things that give life meaning. Here we most often think of community in the context of our members, together with staff and volunteers, fostering the best in each other and serving each other with respect […]
Gaining Passion and Perspective: An Internship at the Well
When JaBria, a Master of Social Work student at the University of Texas at Arlington, was looking into internship opportunities, she was planning on working with children. But when Well Community board member Tiesha White suggested she consider an internship at the Well to broaden her perspective, she trusted the recommendation. Though it wasn’t what she’d originally planned, it’s been an experience that has deepened […]
Serving Simply, Faithfully, Together
Around noon at the Well’s Community Life Center, our members enjoy a simple but powerful blessing: lunches, eaten around a table with others. These times of nourishment and community are made possible by numerous volunteers who demonstrate their care for members through providing and preparing meals, and many Mondays they’re made and delivered by a pair of friends who’ve discovered the joy of serving together.
Four Major Depression Myths
It’s among the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 8% of Americans each year. But in spite of its prevalence, major depression is often misunderstood—and these major depression myths hurt those who are struggling by compounding stigma and discouraging these individuals from seeking help. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately four in 10 individuals who experience major depression over the course of […]
Scrapping Seven Myths About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental illnesses. It’s also among the most misunderstood. This serious, chronic disease can cause hallucinations, delusions and difficulty concentrating, as well as social withdrawal and emotional unresponsiveness. And, due to misunderstandings about this condition, those who are already struggling often deal with social prejudice as well.
Busting 10 Myths About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that impacts nearly 6 million Americans every year. It causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood and energy. These highs and lows, known as mania and depression, impact the ability to think and function. Misconceptions about bipolar disorder abound, and many aren’t harmless misunderstandings. Below are 10 common myths that hurt those dealing with bipolar disorder—and the facts.