October 10 is World Mental Health Day -- Help Us Celebrate the Power of Wellness!

As we seek to expand the Clubhouse approach to mental illness recovery and grow our global Clubhouse network, Clubhouse International recently formed a new working group, the Coalitions and Associations Committee. To date, we work with 20 recognized Clubhouse Coalitions around the world to start, grow and sustain Clubhouses. We are already seeing results! The Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services recently granted awards to start seven new Clubhouses. 

Due to COVID-19, Clubhouses faced many challenges, including having to rapidly pivot from in-person services to hybrid or virtual services. Remarkably, the Clubhouse network quickly mobilized to establish new structures to maintain vital connections with Clubhouse members and to continue to provide essential supports. This brief describes these adaptations and details the efforts by Clubhouse International to inform their global network about best Clubhouse practices during the pandemic.

Clubhouse International announces the launch of our new Corporate Partners program – an opportunity for corporations to participate in our efforts to expand the Clubhouse Model around the world. Our charter Corporate Partners are: Kohlberg Kravits Roberts (New York, NY, USA); H. Lundbeck A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark); Neurocrine Biosciences (San Diego, CA, USA); Sunovion Pharmaceuticals (Marlborough, MA, USA); Alkermes Pharmaceuticals (Waltham, MA, USA); and Karuna Therapeutics (Boston, USA).

Clubhouse International was deeply honored to receive the Special Presidential Commendation Award at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2021 Annual Meeting. The prestigious award was presented by Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H. during the 65^th Convocation of Distinguished Fellows. The award recognizes the evidence-based, cost-effective Clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation as a leading recovery resource for people living with mental illness around the world.

Clubhouse International welcomes and supports the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centered and rights-based approaches. We are pleased that the Clubhouse Model of psychosocial rehabilitation is included in the WHO guidance and technical packages, and that our Training Center, Phoenix Clubhouse in Hong Kong, is identified as an example of community-based mental health services that are following good practices.

Executive Director Joel D. Corcoran released a statement addressing the ongoing issues of racism and social injustice in our society, saying: "We are concerned whenever we learn about intolerance or hate in any form. We are saddened by and stand in opposition to racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, discrimination of religious beliefs and sexual-orientation, and the many other forms of bigotry and social exclusion towards minorities, people of different abilities, and cultural differences."