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!