A Rialto clubhouse offers adults with chronic mental illness the opportunity to build friendships and get support from peers. Clubhouse is a drop-in hangout open to adults who have been diagnosed with a clinical mental illness and live in San Bernardino County. It is free to join, and participants do not have disclose any personal issues. Pacific Clinics, which manages the clubhouse, is an organization which offers programming focused on prevention and early intervention as well as treatment of chronic, severe mental illness.
They have 60 locations across Southern California, including some, like the Rialto Clubhouse which provide supportive services to maintain wellness and recovery. According to Mat Judd, Director of Desert Programs for Pacific Clinics, this opportunity to build friendships is an important component of recovery and ongoing good health for the members of the club. Those who are managing mental illness then have a source of encouragement to follow up with appointments and stick to helpful daily habits such as getting enough sleep, exercise, and eating right.
The clubhouse features internet, a pool table, a kitchen and staff to help with programs, job searches and support. Every day at noon, a nutrition group meets in the kitchen, receives a cooking demonstration and sits down to enjoy the meal together. There are also opportunities to participate in arts and crafts, and to learn about housing and patient rights.
While the clubhouse is supported by staff, it is run by members who oversee and guide the social outings and events. Judd said the clubhouse members throw an amazing Christmas bash, complete with a DJ, but they also come together to give back to the community. Members work with another charity to accept, organize and distribute food to those in need at the Clubhouse. The organization can always use more funding to support its locations which provide a variety of services across the county, including the Rialto Clubhouse.
Members raise their own funds for many of their activities and can always use donations of warm clothing and blankets this time of year. Judd said the clubhouse could especially use a new industrial washer and dryer, which gives members who are homeless a means of doing laundry. For more information about Pacific Clinics visit www. By Rebecca K. More in Local News.
