The Becoming Clubhouse has been a recent development by the Yorkton Mental Health Drop-In Centre, a program offering a range of programming for the community.
"The vision is to create wellness through community-based activities," explained Kelly Bucsis, program coordinator, adding the initiative started in November.
Bucsis said the Becoming Clubhouse program began after looking at what was needed locally in terms of community programming, and "looking at what other places were doing."
The Clubhouse concept is really an umbrella under which a number of more targeted programs have been launched.
Under the umbrella are several group services, said Bucsis.
One of those is the LGBT Social Group, for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender clients.
"It's a support group with recreational activities and information sessions," said Bucsis, adding it is a place for those involved "to talk about gender issues in society."
A young adult social group serves clients 14-to-26 who have mental health issues.
"It's information-based," offered Bucsis, adding they hold workshops on topics such as building self esteem.
A summer program will focus on the same youth, but will focus more on recreational activities.
An adult wellness group exists for older clients with mental health issues.
"It focuses on wellness and balance," said Bucsis, adding it is open to a wide range of people included a stressed office worker, or housewife finding things are getting to her.
"The adult wellness program would be more short term," said Bucsis, adding people often get help finding solutions to what is bothering them and then move on.
Parents of children with disabilities can also find support through a parent group, said Bucsis.
The Parent Support group provides support, workshops, information and community resources.
Under the Becoming Clubhouse programming Bucsis also holds workshops on specific topics, including eight modules to wellness, self esteem, anxiety and depression.
"Those can be arranged to be done on-site," she said, explaining a group could host a workshop in their own locale. At present the service has been available only in the city, "but we're hoping to build outside the city."
Through the programming writing workshops have also been held for clients.
Bucsis said the act of writing has therapeutic value as a way to tell individual stories, and can also just be a way to have fun exploring fictional story-lines.
Bucsis said fiction is good especially for younger clients.
"They'll write more with that They're more willing to share the fictional work," she said, adding, "you can write, but you don't have to share."
They hope to expand the writing programming in the fall, said Bucsis.
The programming start-up and year one costs through a grant from the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Illness. Whether that funding will continue is unknown, but Bucsis said the plan is for the Becoming Clubhouse to continue into 2013.
Anyone wishing more information on the programs available, or for individual support can call Bucsis at 783-8135, or by email at [email protected]
