This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — A Clubhouse that would offer support for those with mental health issues could open in Warsaw this summer.
Chris Fancil, whose career has spanned EMS and firefighting, learned about the Clubhouse concept when he was helping set up the CARES program with Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory.
He’s spent much of this year working to establish a Clubhouse. He serves as the executive director of the proposed Warsaw Cubhouse and has office space with Live Well Kosciusko in the K21 Health Pavilion.
A similar clubhouse existed in Warsaw some 15 years ago, and Fancil believes it could benefit the community.
The Clubhouse concept is fairly simple. Participants meet regularly at the clubhouse and share activities as a way of building camaraderie. There is also a component that helps get them back into the workforce if that’s something they want to achieve.
A call-out meeting last week attracted about 20 people, including two who were part of the original group and spoke in favor of its return.
The turnout, he said, was encouraging.
“One young lady who had been a member of the previous clubhouse explained that she had actually got married in that clubhouse because it was so important in her life,” Fancil said.
Fancil is currently working on financing, certification, and hiring staff.
A temporary clubhouse would be opened before a permanent house is found.
“We are actually talking about finding a temporary space and getting started in July … We want to start as soon as possible because we know the benefit is huge,” Fancil said.
Fancil spoke to News Now Warsaw for In the Know, the public affairs show that can be heard this weekend.
Nationally, instances of depression have increased significantly across the country since the pandemic, and Fancil said the Clubhouse would be a good first step to help those who are struggling to help them integrate them back into society.
“By getting people out of their homes, getting them to come and join us and spend good time with us and spend some quality interaction with us helps with depression and anxiety more than you could believe, really,” Fancil said. “Just because we’re there together and they’re not alone.”
He’s working to line up money through a variety of sources, including Health First Indiana, K21 Health Foundation and possibly Bowen Center.
Unlike the first Clubhouse, Fancil said the new one would not require anyone to be aligned with counseling services through a specific organization.
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The post Mental health ‘Clubhouse’ could open this summer, executive director says appeared first on News Now Warsaw.
