Stay Updated on Latest News from the Well Community
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 […]
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A Well World: Too Many, Too Few
I asked our communications coordinator to check again. The percentage she just stated couldn’t be right. She revisited her notes and confirmed. Still unconvinced, I contacted our program manager. Again, the number was repeated. How could it be that 50%—half—of participating Well members are currently homeless? The number has risen so sharply and so fast, I couldn’t quite take it in. But it’s true. And […]
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Member Spotlight: The New Guy
If you want to know about baseball statistics, Bible facts or the steel industry, Martin’s* your man. Like other residents at Jacob’s House, he has had a bumpy life but has found a place of community and calm through the Well. “I guess you could say I’m the new guy. I’ve lived here about six weeks,” he says, “and it’s been a good fit for […]
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Four Things to Know About Homelessness in Dallas
On a single night earlier this year, the Housing Forward 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count found that 3,718 people in Dallas and Collin counties were experiencing homelessness. Each one has a name and a story. And many are also dealing with mental health challenges.
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A Well World: Equity Statement
Throughout the U.S., various mental health advocates and agencies have been promoting Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. We do this because minority people face additional challenges and obstacles in addressing mental illness than do whites. (Click here to read our blog about those difficulties.) At the Well Community, we are uniquely positioned to serve minority people. In 2022, 77% of the people who attended the […]
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Four Barriers to Minority Mental Health Care
Mental health struggles impact people of every race and background. And those of every ethnicity and culture often need the help of qualified professionals when facing these challenges. However, for members of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities, significant roadblocks make obtaining care much more difficult.
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A Well World: Generosity of Spirit
Our blogs this month focus on the intersection of mental illness and poverty. The two often go hand in hand and are often most visible among the homeless whom we pass on the streets. It would be remiss of us, though, to give the impression that poverty and mental health issues limit the ability of a person to be generous. I see stunning examples of […]
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Member Spotlight: Poverty and Mental Illness
Philipe* is a charter member of the Well Community. That means for over 20 years he has found a welcoming place to belong, despite grappling with overwhelming challenges of living with several mental health conditions. He represents the majority of Well members: male (75%) and Hispanic (43%), and like many others, he is now in his 60s. He has been navigating mental illness since he […]
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A Higher Toll: The Impact of Inflation on Mental Health
It’s hard to make it through a day without a reminder of rising prices. Inflation reached a 40-year high in 2022, and prices continue to climb. Nearly everything, from groceries to housing, costs more than it did just a year or two ago—in some cases more than it did the week before. While this inflation is certainly an economic issue, it doesn’t affect only wallets […]
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A Well World: Kinder Voices
During the long months of COVID, our Well members faced many additional insurmountable challenges. Two particularly come to mind. First, we lost several members during the pandemic, and we miss them terribly. We notice their absences during game time, when their laughter no longer joins in the fun. We are painfully aware of their passing when we pray for one another and their kind voices […]
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