Proposed Clubhouse Could Boost Hope in Local Mental Health Community
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
In three of South Carolina’s Upstate counties, a new kind of sanctuary is taking shape. The results are part of a vision that has been years in the making—a clubhouse not of brick and mortar alone, but of hope, community, and relentless support.
“The idea is simple, but powerful” said Zeke Stevenson, Director of Community Development at United Way of Anderson County. “It’s about creating a day program designed for folks grappling with severe and persistent mental health issues. A place they can call their own, where support and encouragement are constants, and where they can build lives that are healthier, happier, more fulfilling.”
This clubhouse, Stevenson said, is not some novel invention; it is the Clubhouse International model, one that has proven its worth in other cities—Greenville included. In Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties, the concept is more urgent, more needed than ever.
“We’ve been talking about this for a while,” said Stevenson, “but now, the rubber’s hitting the road. There’s real momentum. We’re moving quickly toward an opening set for July of next year.”
The location is nestled near the heart of Pendleton. Conversations with supportive community members and potential partners have been encouraging.
A history of successful clubhouses elsewhere offers a testament to an approach that treats mental illness not as a sentence but as a challenge to be met with dignity and opportunity. This new clubhouse aim to be a beacon for those who have too often been sidelined by stigma.
“The clubhouse will be a place for people to be,” said Stevenson, “a place to go where they can receive encouragement and support.”
In the wider tapestry of Anderson County’s ongoing efforts to serve its most vulnerable citizens, this clubhouse feels like a turning point. For Stevenson and the United Way team working with others professionals in the mental health community, the work is far from over, but with steadfast belief and growing community buy-in, the dream edges closer to reality.
Clubhouse International is a global nonprofit dedicated to ending social and economic isolation for people living with mental illness by developing and supporting Clubhouses—community centers offering opportunities for recovery, employment, education, wellness, and friendships. Operating on a proven and standardized model, Clubhouse International oversees more than 370 Clubhouses in 33 countries, providing support to over 100,000 individuals annually. These Clubhouses help members rebuild their lives through holistic rehabilitation, meaningful work, and strong community connections, and have been shown to improve employment and reduce hospitalizations and incarceration rates among participants.
