What are Mental-Health Clubhouses, and Why Did Mayor Adams Invest in Them?

HOST INTRO:

Mayor Adams has announced a plan to expand mental health services. Announced last month, it includes a $7 million investment tripling the number of  “clubhouses” in New York City. Clubhouses are recreational spaces that provide long term care to people with severe mental illness. They help members find jobs, housing and education in their neighborhoods. 

So far, staff, clients and critics say they’re a success! Reporter Tricia Stortz heads to check one out. 

STORTZ 1:

Venture House is a two-story brick building in Jamaica, Queens. It has the kind of arches and rounded windows that would make you think it’s a church. But, it’s not. 

Members like Gina Ambrosia come here for mental health support…

STORTZ 2: What are some of the reasons that people come to Venture House?

GINA AMBROSIA 1: They come to Venture House work, to keep the clubhouse functioning and operational. Mostly, we like to make friends.

STORTZ 3:

Venture House doesn’t offer therapy or medication. Clubhouses don’t provide traditional psychiatric care. Instead, they can be a place to just hang out. Members can come and go on a voluntary basis. There’s  activities, field trips and classes. 

AMBROSIA 2:

I'm having a grand time at the art class. I go home and I draw… It's given me something I haven't done in 40 years and I'm doing it and I'm feeling good about myself. 

STORTZ 4:

Ambrosia has been coming for the past five months. Upstairs the office doors are always kept open and bright paintings cover the walls. Walk out the back door and there’s a patio with a small garden and benches for when the weather is nice. It’s warm and inviting. 

AMBROSIA 3:

We don't think about our mental health here. It takes a second seat to the person. You don't go around wearing your illness on your sleeve. You might say it once in a while, but it doesn’t… it isn't what motivates you.  

STORTZ 5:

Kelsey Lurie is a social worker here. She says one of the reasons clubhouses like this are successful is that they have a completely different set of intentions than traditional mental health settings-- like hospitals or rehab. 

KELSEY LURIE 1

The main goal of Clubhouse is really keeping people out of institutions, out of hospitals, out of prisons… 

STORTZ 6:
Another reason for their success, clubhouses have a special staff model… they’re purposefully understaffed. They want members to fill jobs like receptionist, chef… even board members. It’s a central part of their strategy. Having members work trains them for outside jobs and gives them purpose. 

LURIE 2

Everybody works side by side, members and staff together. I remember when I first started, everyone asked, oh, are you a member or are you staff? So that line is intentionally blurred and that facilitates recovery. 

STORTZ 7: 

Clubhouses also help members find housing. But, the main draw for most is the community that  they find there. 

LURIE 3

The biggest thing that people talk about is being isolated and not wanting to be in their house. So if this is a space where they can come outside and they're not in their house, then that's excellent. 

STORTZ 8:  Another reason clubhouses are proving popular, Juliet Douglas, the CEO of Venture House Queens, says they’re cost effective. 

STORTZ (IN TAPE) 9:

How is it cost effective? Could you explain that a little bit more?  

JULIET DOUGLAS 1: 

Y’know, It's been said that a one year of clubhouse membership is equivalent to the cost of a two week inpatient psychiatric hospital stay. 

STORTZ 10: 

Douglas is right. She’s talking about the results from a  few different studies. When you collect all the numbers, Venture House is cheaper than most traditional alternatives. For example, for each member, New York City reimburses Venture House up to $4500 per year. But it could cost twice as much to stay in a city hospital for two weeks

STORTZ 11:

Elisheva Adler is a clinical social worker in New York City. She’s very familiar with clubhouses. 

ELISHEVA ADLER 1: I've worked with some of these clubhouses or clients who've been part of them a few years ago and they're really helpful. Felicity House is really wonderful… They specifically serve women with autism, which is a really underserved community.

STORTZ 12: 

She also thinks the Mayor’s plan is a step in the right direction. 

But, success can come with problems. Venture House is running out of space for all the new members who have been showing up. The staff and members here  hope the Mayor’s $7 million will make a big difference. Tricia Stortz, Columbia Radio News.