What is a Clubhouse?

A Clubhouse is a community of mental health patients and staff which supports patients surviving in life without hospital treatment and tries to promote their economical, social and professional position in society.

• Where a member can always come
• Where she/he is entitled to a meaningful job and relationships
• Where membership is for life

A Clubhouse offers a possibility to a wide range of human relationships and interactive situations. The membersä mutual support has important rehabilitating effect.

Participating in a Clubhouseäs work ordered day gives members the possibility of meaningful work, experiences of success and boasting of self-esteem. The members work voluntarily at same time for their own recovery and for the benefit of the Clubhouse community. Members and staff work together to get a sense of accomplishment as they utilize old skills and develop new ones. Members regain a sense of self-worth and often find that theyäre wanted, needed and valued for the first time in a long time.

An important goal of a Clubhouse is to support members in returning to the working life. This is supported by work ordered day with its various challenging contents, as well as a focus on career planning, supported education and transitional employment.

The Clubhouse movement is international: Since 2005, the movement has spread to more than 30 countries worldwide. The first Clubhouse, Fountain House, was founded in New York in 1948. For those countries with several Clubhouses, like Finland, Clubhouses can form their own coalitions.

The International Standards for Clubhouse Programs, agreed upon by the entire Clubhouse community, define the Clubhouse Model of rehabilitation. The principals expressed in these Standards are the heart of Clubhousesä success in helping people with mental illness to stay out of hospitals while reaching social, financial and vocational goals. The Standards insist that a Clubhouse is a place that offers respect and opportunity to its members. These Standards also provide the basis for assessing Clubhouse quality, through the International Center for Clubhouse Development certification process.

• The Suvimäki Clubhouse was established on the 9th of August 1999.
• As of 2009, there are aproximately 355 members. The members come from different municipalities in the region of Jyväskylä.
• There are active members (members who come to the Clubhouse at least once a month) about 90.
• Daily there are about 30 members working at the Clubhouse.
• There are five Transitional Employment placements.
• There are five paid staff members in the Clubhouse, including the director, and a temporary project worker.
• The background organization is The Association for the Support for Mental Rehabilitation.
• The Suvimäki Clubhouse is a part of the Finland's Fountain House Clubhouse Coalition and is a member of the ICCD (The International Center for Clubhouse Development).

The Clubhouse activity is funded by The Finnish Slot Machine Assocciation, The City of Jyväskylä, and The Municipality of Muurame