Help Us Reduce Isolation

We need your help to decrease isolation for people struggling with a mental illness.

I am the co-founder of Connections Place along with Jackie Powell.  Our roots go back to 2014 when we first tried to find some meaningful help for our young adult children struggling with a mental illness.  We discovered it impossible to find supports in Victoria that provide the kind of long-term assistance that works for people like our sons.

We discovered Clubhouse International in 2014 and have been non-stop in our quest to get this world-renowned, evidence-based model of psychosocial rehabilitation established here in our own community.

Clubhouse International began in 1948 in New York City as ‘Fountain House’  – the original Clubhouse.  Due to it’s success this model has been replicated in 330 locations globally. Fountain House is a recipient of the Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Award. This award reflects on all 330 Clubhouse Models worldwide.

There are 18 Clubhouse Internationals in Canada – most major city has one including Toronto, Calgary and Montreal.  PEI has three!

The key thing to know is that this program has been scientifically proven to keep people from needing emergency services such as hospitalizations and policing, thus saving society tax dollars.   Mental Illness is an invisible disease in many regards and doesn’t hit the headlines until a crisis occurs.  Most people do not understand the nature of this debilitating illness, or its prevalence in our country, and worldwide. Entire families are affected when one in their midst becomes ill.

One of our boys has lived in almost complete isolation in his mother’s home for 9 years.  The other son struggles and has lost contact with his older brother and cannot attend school or find a job that will accommodate his anxiety.  Our boys would be street statistics if it were not for us providing a safety net for them.

We are working tirelessly to prevent the next crisis for our own boys and for people like them.  We sincerely hope you might realize the urgency of the need for the establishment of a Clubhouse International in the GVA, and will seize the opportunity to join us in this most worthwhile enterprise.

We have received a $500,000 anonymous donation and in addition received $26,000 from 100+ Women Who Care Victoria and donations from individuals like you.

Please Spread the Word of Clubhouse International!

Cherry Lynn Brown