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Perspectives from Within the Clubhouse: A Qualitative Investigation into a Peer-to-Peer Vocational Support Program for Adults with Serious Mental Illness

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Abstract

Adults with serious mental illness consistently have the highest rate of unemployment of all disability groups and in some regions, the rate exceeds 90%. To redress this, mental health clubhouses offer a unique form of vocational rehabilitation built upon peer support. Through the analysis of 14 interviews of clubhouse members, this phenomenological study provides details of the clubhouse experience and its broad effect. The findings reveal that clubhouse members, despite some situational disappointments, find the clubhouse to be an important and highly beneficial resource that provides a sense of connectedness, along with its aims of vocational rehabilitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, La Salle University, 1900 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19141, USA

    Gregory Roth

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  1. Gregory Roth
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Correspondence to Gregory Roth.

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Roth, G. Perspectives from Within the Clubhouse: A Qualitative Investigation into a Peer-to-Peer Vocational Support Program for Adults with Serious Mental Illness. J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health 4, 5–17 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-016-0070-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-016-0070-9

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