Change Lives of 50 Mentally Ill for the Better

Autumn is a wonderful time that brings us healing days full of bright colours, tranquility and calm walks in the countryside. On October 2 active Clubhouse members and staff went to the Pafnuty-Borovsk abbey located in approximately 100 kilometers to the south of Moscow. The abbey is located in a beautiful forrested area within a 2-kilometer walk from the highway. It was founded in 1444 and has a long glorious history. We enjoyed a brilliant guided tour, warm synny day, silence and fantastic views. After the tour we had lunch in the abbey canteen and went for a walk. People with mental illness often pay no attention to physical activities and doing sports. So the trip provided us not only with an excellent cultural opportunity but also with a good walking exercise! The result: memorable impressions and a 5-kilometer walk! And a wondeful sense of community!

At the end of January Russian House started a course of oil painting for the Clubhouse members. Since then a professional fine artist Alexander Bobrov has delivered 10 classes. Our first lesson was devoted to copying a classic painting by a well known Russian artist Isaac Levitan. At the beginning of the fisrt class everybody sat in front of a blank canvas and felt deep loneless. Everybody was shy and not very confident and only our teacher repeated, "you can, you will do it!". And we could. By the end of the class everybody had their own small paintings finished! And, which is much more important - everybody got brilliant experience of success. Success is what every person needs. It helps us go ahead, step-by-step foster self-confedence and self-esteem. It gives us a sense of the future perspective and a sense of purpose. People suffering mental illness, perhaps, more than many others despirately need to feel success, regain self-confidence and self-esteem as well as get a perspective.

"Painting classes taught me that there was no 'right' and 'wrong". We should fear to reveal and express our individuality neither in painting nor in our life," said Katya, one of the Clubhouse members who actively participated in the classes.

After the first success people could not wait for the second class: they already knew that it would be another exciting experience. Since then Clubhouse members who took the classes have painted the sea and the seaside, mountains, lilac, beautiful flowers, snowy forest scenes... more than 60 wonderful paintings! The whole Clubhouse community is very proud of their success. On May 30 we open an art exhibition where displayed all the works at Russian House. In the autumn Clubhouse members will participate in the all-Russian festival of arts for people with mental health problems and show their paintings to a wide public. Let's wish good luck to them!

We always are happy to share achievements of our Clubhouse rehabilitation program participants. This time we would like to tell you a story of Tatiana. In October 2017 Russia House helped her to get a job at "Together" Ltd. and since then she has been working there doing very simple work: painted small boxes for the hand-made souvenirs that the compaby produces, did some cleaning work and performed a lot of not very qualified work. But she had a dream - to master work with clay and ceramics. These new skills could help her perform a lot of creative tasks at "Together" Ltd. Dreams should come true, do not you think? That is why we decided to pay for Tatiana's studying. We belive that it can be a good use of those donations you send Russia House. So, now Tatiana started studying and Russia House covers all the costs. There was another problem - Tatiana is very shy and had a lot of fears about her studying.  It was a real challenge for her to take lessons. So Lisa, a Russia House staff, helps Tatiana and accompany her at the lessons.  Tatiana has been studying for only 2 weeks but she has already learned a lot. Look at the first mug that Tatiana made on her own!

We all know very well that physical health is no less important than mental health. For people with mental health problems physical activities are very important as they help them stabilaze the condition of their mental health. That is why our Clubhouse rehabilitation program for people with mental health problems pays substantial attention to promoting healthy lifestyles among the Clubhouse members. Russia House motivates members to cook healthy food, stop smoking and do sports. The most favorable activities - swimming and bowling. In addition, some members like Nordic walking and riding bycicles. Please, have a look at Ilya and Sasha and share their joy!

To get a job means to obtain independence. Rehabilitation can not be considered completed if a person who gets rehabilitation support is unemployed. Russia House struggles a lot to help the members of our rehabilitation program come back to paid employment. Employment of people with mental health disability is not an easy task in any country. We had experienced some stagnation in development of our employment program. We have been doing a lot of efforts but they all failed.

And in October, after almost a 2-year gap Russia House made a real breakthrough in development of the employment program. We got a group placement at which 4 Clubhouse members will work. The placement is located at a small socially-oriented firm “Together” Ltd. The firm works in the field of hand-made production and souvenirs and fulfill large orders from big corporations and businesses. Our guys had a 2-week probation or trial period and worked together with a social worker. The latter helped them master all necessary skills and establish productive working relationships with other staff of the firm. They all successfully completed the trial period and concluded labour contracts with the employer. It is the supported employment placement and Russia House will continue any support that these 4 members will need at their working place. Tanya, Andrew, Pavel and Vlad, Clubhouse  members who started working in "Together" Ltd., consider this placement as the first step to their independent life and happy. Good Luck, guys!! We keep our fingers crossed!!!