What is a Clubhouse?

So what is a Clubhouse?

By Sam, Harbor House Member

It’s a center created to foster rehabilitation and productivity for people struggling with mental illness. The framing goals of a Clubhouse include: helping its members to lead a productive, structured life; providing a respectful environment; involving Clubhouse Members in the day-to-day business of running the Clubhouse; and providing Members with aid in furthering their quality of life.

The success of this program is in its simple answer to a difficult question: how to de-stigmatize mental illness and get employment for the mentally ill. In the past, it’s been a Catch-22: in order to get rid of the stigma, you need to work; in order to work, you need to get rid of the stigma. Work is the path to recovery; thus the Clubhouse Model excels by providing employment and structure for its members.

I am please to be involved in the creation and development of Harbor House. I hope that it will be as great an asset to the city as it is to us.

Massachusetts alone has over 30 clubhouses; Rhode Island now has Harbor House.

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