A clubhouse is a community-based service designed to support the recovery of people living with serious mental illness (SMI). Each clubhouse provides a restorative environment for people whose lives have been severely disrupted because of their mental illness. The concept of a clubhouse - which was pioneered by the first clubhouse, Fountain House, in the 1940s - starts with the idea that "community is therapy." In each clubhouse, an intentional community is created, where members (people living with SMI) and staff work together, side-by-side, to carry out all daily operations of the clubhouse.
For 75 years, Fountain House has been a beacon of hope and recovery for people living with serious mental illness. Through Fountain House's direct service clubhouse programs in New York City and Los Angeles, as well as national policy, advocacy, and research initiatives, they have transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people living with serious mental illness. In the coming years, Fountain House will expand its direct services for people living with mental illness by 70% across New York City and Los Angeles. This includes a new building and tripling the membership of Fountain House’s Bronx clubhouse, establishing a permanent location in Hollywood serving 300 members, and the opening of their Harlem location serving 300 members. Fountain House’s innovative approach begins with the insight that community is therapy and prioritizes the leadership of people living with serious mental illness, whom Fountain House refers to as “members” to signify agency and belonging. As the inspiration for more than 300 programs worldwide, Fountain House demonstrates the power of community in improving health outcomes, reducing loneliness, and breaking cycles of isolation and institutionalization.
