For many people, living with a serious mental illness — like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder — can be an isolating experience. Treatment and therapy in clinical settings can address many needs, but they don’t often offer a sense of community.
Enter the clubhouse.
For decades, the clubhouse service model has offered people with serious mental illness around the country employment support, daily meals and education.
Research has shown it can help people find jobs, go back to school and keep them out of the criminal justice system.
So far, Los Angeles hasn’t had its own clubhouse. But that’s expected to change this summer.
A hope for L.A.
In 2012, Georgette Darby had lost her job and was down on her luck.
“When I became homeless I had an onset of mental illness, and it was hard to find a place to stay. Especially in downtown L.A.,” Darby said.
Living with major depressive disorder, Darby said she struggled for a long time trying to find a program that would accept her. It took a total breakdown before she was finally able to get help.
“I tried to walk in front of an MTA bus, because I just couldn’t handle it anymore,” Darby said.
She now has permanent housing thanks to a local outreach program. And for the past six months, Darby has worked with the nonprofit Fountain House to establish a mental health clubhouse — a place that might help people like herself.
Georgette Darby at…
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