The Clubhouse Model as a resource for mental health

[TeenHelp]

The Clubhouse Model as a resource for mental health
By (Komorebi_Sisu)

I joined a local Clubhouse about ten months ago. Someone had mentioned to me that it would be a good idea for me to have a place to go especially when I am having a difficult time at home and tend to feel a sense of isolation. This article will discuss key points in what the Clubhouse Model is and how the Clubhouse Model has been helpful for me and how it may be helpful to you too.


What is the Clubhouse model?

The Clubhouse model is a type of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program that is used as an alternative or in conjunction with clinical services. The first Clubhouse was developed in 1948, at a time when there was a growing need for people living with mental illness to be supported while staying integrated in their community instead of kept away in hospitals.
The Clubhouse serves as a place where people who live with mental illness and/or substance use disorders can gather and support each other as peers while running the Clubhouse. There is an emphasis placed on members and staff working in equal partnership.

Becoming a member

I first went online to the website of the Clubhouse I was recommended to and looked at their eligibility requirements. While eligibility requirements may vary from Clubhouse to Clubhouse, a basic requirement is the person in question has to be living with a mental illness.

What's more, is that the applicant should be personally interested in the program. One of the sources of pride for the Clubhouse Model is the fact that unlike hospitals where individuals may be sectioned and other Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs where there may be attendance policies, in the Clubhouse, everything that members do is on a voluntary basis. Therefore it is important that while applicants may be referred by someone else or even strongly encouraged to apply, that no one is forced to do so as it would go against the values of what the Clubhouse stands for.

The application has questions to try to figure out whether the applicant is at least somewhat personally motivated to apply; even hesitant or uncertain but still willing to try is better than feeling resentful. Other eligibility requirements include that you have to be at least 16 years old and able to go to and from the Clubhouse.

The process of becoming a member involves filling out an application, mailing it in and waiting to hear back. I found the written portion of the application online. The second part of the application is to attach the documents that give a profile to what the mental health issues the applicant has been experiencing. The Clubhouse I have joined asked for a Psycho-social History, which is a summary of no more than a page long and can be done by any mental health professional or primary care doctor. I also had to provide a Psychiatric Evaluation which is an in-depth assessment and is generally done by a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner.

Inside the Clubhouse

While each Clubhouse will be tailored to address the needs of the specific location it serves, there tends to be certain common concepts and components to a Clubhouse. For instance, we are not called “patients” or “clients” but rather, we are referred to as “participants” or “members” as we work in partnership with staff members in every aspect of the way the Clubhouse is run.

We have what we call the “work-ordered day”. This is a way to give the members a structure to their day with the main program running from 9 am-5 pm Monday through Friday. In addition, there are weekend and evening programs, as well as the holidays which are geared more as social and recreational activities. Some activities in the past have been showing films, workshops run by members and/or staff, local trips, games and more. Lastly, as part of the social and recreational programs, the Clubhouse I go to is open on all national holidays. It is common for people in the mental health community to find the holiday seasons particularly challenging. The Clubhouse has an annual Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Party and Fourth of July Barbecue. Other cultural events that members and staff have the opportunity to participate in at the Clubhouse include watching the Super Bowl and attend a discussion in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All of the social and recreational programs are open to members and staff to suggest ideas and attend any meetings around the planning of these activities.

Besides going to the your unit and going through the “work ordered day”, Clubhouses offer a variety of social services, including help with college re-entry, finding employment, independent housing, referrals to recommended doctors and more. Members are welcomed to explore other Units and attend any of the meetings that a unit holds.

There are seven units in my Clubhouse which averages to one or two Units on every floor. When I first became a member, I was asked to choose a “home unit”. Each member chooses a “home unit” based on the individual’s goals and interests. The “home unit” is the place that members go to and within each unit there are different projects, activities and tasks going on that members participate in. This helps especially the new members settle into the Clubhouse because it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed.

Below I will describe each of the seven Units.

Culinary Unit: The Culinary Unit is the Clubhouse cafeteria. In the back there is the main kitchen, where members of the unit plan, prepare and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Members of thisunit keep the cafeteria tidy and take care of our "general store" which is where members can go to purchase food items after the set lunch hours.

Welcome Unit: Members of the Welcome Unit greet members at the door and assist guests. The Welcome Unit has the Membership Committee which is a group of members and staff who look through applications and accept new members into the program and schedule tours and a special first day with new members.

Welcome Unit members also have the Thrift Store to maintain, which has mostly clothing items as well as some personal hygiene items.

Horticulture Unit: The members of the Horticulture Unit have four terraces and gardens throughout the Clubhouse to take care of. They do repair work, carpentry, flower arrangements, and caring for the turtles. There is a farm associated with this Clubhouse so the Horticulture Unit is also in charge of scheduling trips and maintaining the farmland. There are eggs and produce from the farm that are used by the Culinary Unit.

Education Unit:The Education Unit has multiple educational opportunities such as scholarships, tutoring, educational courses, providing support services to members in educational or vocational training programs and overlooking the community of members who are Certified Peer Specialists or are in the training process.

Research Unit: The Research Unit focuses on statistics, the impact of the Clubhouse, advocacy, and data. The Research Unit also does work in Colleague Training which is one of the ways the many Clubhouses worldwide communicate and learn from each other. For instance, members and staff will travel to other Clubhouses as well as host members and staff from other Clubhouses. The Research Unit would hold video conferences with other Clubhouses across the country and the world and share ideas, resources and discuss innovative methods for tackling any particular issue. Finally, the Research Unit looks into how many members participate in any given activity as well as ways to improve the Clubhouse.

Wellness Unit: The Wellness Unit overlooks the fitness room with gym equipment, provides health-related information and resources, help members find resources and hold classes such as cooking and yoga. The Wellness Unit also has a "Wellness Cart" that members of the Wellness Unit go around to every unit and offer healthy snacks for an inexpensive price.

Communication Unit: The Communication Unit does anything related to the communications within the Clubhouse as well as out of the Clubhouse. This unit operates the Switchboard which means taking phone-calls and redirecting callers as needed. Members edit and publish the Daily Newsletter, Weekly Newsletter and Literary Magazine. The Communication Unit has an established Media Team that produces videos and shows them to the Clubhouse during weekly Clubhouse gatherings. There is an art gallery where members can show their work. The Communication Unit also runs the errands relating to clerical work such as sorting through mail and making flyers for announcements. The Communication Unit shares the role with the Research Unit to build relationships with other Clubhouses and have an emphasis on advocacy related work. Finally, there is "Reachout" work which includes calling up or visiting members throughout the Clubhouse who may have been hospitalized or haven't been heard from for a while and updating the list of members each year.

I joined the Communications Unit because I am interested in the published work that my Clubhouse does. I have considered switching units which is an option for anyone who feels like that is what is best for them to better achieve their goals. Alternatively, members can stay in their original unit while participating in activities and clubs or acquiring services that are offered by other units.


How the Clubhouse Model has Been Helpful in My Recovery

What I like about the Clubhouse philosophy is the way the perspective is shifted from focusing on what’s wrong with a person, their illness and their problems to focusing on the whole person; that each person has strengths, interests, life experiences, a story to share, insights to offer and can give meaningful contributions to society, in spite of their mental health conditions. I also found the Clubhouse Model to be helpful to my recovery because there is peer support embedded into its culture. In addition, the Clubhouse I go to has been a space that I can use in my own way, at my own pace and there are many resources for different kinds of needs. For example, mental health and economic security are interconnected. Part of my mental health recovery is becoming more financially independent and healing from having lived in poverty for so many years. The Clubhouse has not only been emotionally supportive but also has provided opportunities to gain job skills, have access to subsidized food and clothing and have a community of people who are informed and have personal experience in the many layers that mental illness can impact someone’s life.

The Clubhouse Model was one of the pioneer peer-based programs in the 20th century, designed to support people who live with serious mental illness through a holistic, anti-oppressive approach and a shared set of features. However, there may be qualities that are unique to each individual clubhouse. The key features include the work-ordered day, a social and recreational program, a go-to place for social service needs and a set of values and standards that are upheld. There is an organization called Clubhouse International that oversees the clubhouses worldwide. If you are interested in learning more, joining a clubhouse in your local area or even starting a clubhouse, you can visit the Clubhouse International website. https://clubhouse-intl.org