[bpforever1]

Does anybody go to a clubhouse? Is it worth one's time? I'm thinking of visiting the clubhouse here in the city but am wondering if it is worth it?

[splitimage]

I go to a clubhouse, and really enjoy it. Just make sure what you're going to really is a clubhouse, and not just a drop in centre.

In my clubhouse, during the day, you're expected to be volunteering doing something to help keeep the place running, and then in the evenings and weekends their are social activities. The volunteering requirement means there's kind of a baseline for cognitive functioning and everyone's pretty motivated.

Drop-in's by contrast anyone can go to and there are few or any expectations of participants. I find they tend to populated by a group with lower cognitive function, motivation then at the clubhouse.

splitimage

[emgreen]

I went to a clubhouse for about a month & found it to be very depressing. I worked for 25 years before my BP (depression especially) forced me to go on disability. The clubhouse wasn't at all healthy for my self-esteem. I was so discouraged/embarrassed one day that I broke down in tears & never returned.

I suppose it really comes down to what the clubhouse is for. What does it stand for? What is it's mandate? What are the requirements of membership? What are the criteria for joining? I say look long and hard at this - particularly the membership.

I just left a club after feeling extremely shocked, dismayed, appaulled, and hurt. I realised it didn't stand for everything I agreed with and no longer wished to be associated with it and a large part of the membership.

I joined on account of the mandate (raising money for veteran's causes). A great deal of money was in fact raised and I was one of the more prominent members behind the activities. Unfortunately I discovered a large portion of the members were white nationalists. Disgusting and I was horrified I had spent two years associated with such a group. GONE!

[nativechic]

So I've been to two different clubhouses in my area. I ended up joining the closer one which only had a 1 day orientation instead of 3 days. I only go about once every other week though. I was hoping they'd get me a job but it seems like they only have positions in retail and food services.

[*Laurie*]

I have never heard of this. What is a clubhouse?

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I have never heard of this. What is a clubhouse?

Laurie - I was curious and googled mental health clubhouse. There were some hits but not near me. One had intake paperwork that there is no way I would fill out. It looked like a place to go to get help, services, and social activities.

You’ll like this—one of the hits was NAMI, and there are some of those where I live, so I went to two this week. I liked the second one I went to because it had someone my age in the group.

[pachyderm]

I was a member of a clubhouse at one time -- the kind of clubhouse of the kind started by Fountain House in New York City. It was not so much the kind of programs they offered, as the fact that they treated us members like human beings, not monsters, that, I think, made the difference in my life. If you could find one like that, I would recommend it.

My place had, as one of its goals for members, regular employment. Through them I re-entered the workforce, in a place that also respected me. It made a big difference in my life.

Recently the same place has stopped being a clubhouse as it used to be (I think), and has become more of a city-run social institution. I am not sure it has retained the same values as before.

There is a clubhouse that I went to once, and it was not the place for me. There were activities and such, but mostly ones that I was not interested in (lots of art-related stuff). Also, the cognitive levels of the people there seemed quite low, and I felt like I had little in common with the individuals there. It may sound shallow, but I prefer to talk to people who can keep up a somewhat engaging conversation.

Not my scene, but I think it's awesome that some people enjoy spending time there and can get out of the house for a while.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by key tones

Laurie - I was curious and googled mental health clubhouse. There were some hits but not near me. One had intake paperwork that there is no way I would fill out. It looked like a place to go to get help, services, and social activities.

You’ll like this—one of the hits was NAMI, and there are some of those where I live, so I went to two this week. I liked the second one I went to because it had someone my age in the group.

Thank you key tones. I appreciate your answer.

I think we call clubhouses "Wellness Centers" here.

[pachyderm]

To me, the term "clubhouse" has a specific meaning when you are talking about mental health -- although the word itself is rather general. Though it is 20 years old, here is an article about Fountain House as it was then, from the New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/08/n...asis-jobs.html

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

To me, the term "clubhouse" has a specific meaning when you are talking about mental health -- although the word itself is rather general. Though it is 20 years old, here is an article about Fountain House as it was then, from the New York Times:

Thank you for the link. Wonderful article.

Yes, we have programs just like that in the county where I live. Wellness Centers, but those are also connected to other programs. Some of the programs do offer nice housing for mentally ill people. The NAMI Connection group I facilitate is part of what could be termed "a clubhouse". The programs here are terrific and really popular. All of the people I've met (with the exception of one severely mentally ill, hostile man) are terrific people.

[HALLIEBETH87]

i work in one as peer support

[Nammu]

I've been a member in two. One in Minneapolis and the other in Austin, Tx. The north one was well run and quite active. They helped me find affordable housing. The one in Austin was just starting out and was finding its way. I didn't go often although they served very health lunches for a buck. There were drop in centers in Austin too but they tended to be for lower functioning people. Where I live now has nothing. No NAMI for except for family. No bipolar groups. No clubhouse, not a thing.

okay, I was wrong, I had a different interpretation. I have never heard of such a thing as describe here.