The Clubhouse Model is a non-residential program for people with persistent mental illnesses, where members are involved in every aspect of running the house as part of their treatment. It was developed in the 1940s and has since been replicated globally.
The Clubhouse Model was created to provide a supportive community for individuals with mental illnesses who had lost social connections due to stigma and institutionalization. It aimed to replace lost ties with new ones before discharge from psychiatric facilities.
Unlike traditional psychiatric treatment, the Clubhouse Model focuses on empowering members by involving them in running the clubhouse, emphasizing social interaction, and providing a sense of purpose through work and community involvement.
Approximately 6% of Americans live with a serious mental illness (SMI), which is defined as a condition that substantially interferes with or limits major life activities.
The Clubhouse Model is transformative because it provides an ordinary setting for social interaction and personal contributions, where collaboration between staff and members in everyday activities aids in the process of mental health recovery.
The Clubhouse Model addresses stigma by creating a space where members are not treated as patients but as equal participants in a community. It emphasizes their strengths and contributions rather than their illnesses.
Work in the Clubhouse Model is centered around maintaining the clubhouse and performing daily tasks. It provides members with a sense of purpose, agency, and social interaction, which are crucial for mental health recovery.
The Clubhouse Model empowers members by allowing them to participate in running the clubhouse, making decisions, and contributing to the community. It emphasizes voluntary participation and provides a sense of belonging and purpose.
The principle reflects the idea that engaging in meaningful work and activities can help individuals build agency and purpose, reducing the time spent dwelling on negative emotions or mental health struggles.
The Clubhouse Model has spread to 33 countries, with its principles of community involvement, purposeful work, and empowerment being adopted in various mental health treatment centers worldwide.
Margaret talks to Allison Raskin about the Clubhouse Model that has been helping people find agency and purpose and community since the 1940s.
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