Creative Virtual Engagement: Successes and Challenges Supporting People With Serious Mental Illness in Hybrid Clubhouse Environments

• Published in: Psychiatric rehabilitation journal 2024-09, Vol.47 (3), p.209-218
• Main Authors: Agner, Joy, Nakamura, Lisa, Kaukau, Tyra M., Liu, Maileen, Botero, Adriana, Churchill, Haley, Teranishi, Derwin, Patton, Flora, Cogo, Kelly, Cha, Tiffany
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Community Mental Health; Community Mental Health Centers - organization & administration; Community Mental Health Services - methods; Community Mental Health Services - organization & administration; COVID-19; Female; Hawaii; Human; Humans; Male; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - rehabilitation; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Psychiatric Rehabilitation - methods; Psychosocial Rehabilitation; Serious Mental Illness; Telemedicine; Virtual Environment; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 1095-158X; 1559-3126; 1559-3126
• DOI: 10.1037/prj0000605

Objective: This study examines adaptations, successes, and persistent challenges engaging members in virtual or hybrid community-based psychosocial rehabilitation centers called Clubhouses. Methods: Fifteen members and staff from five Clubhouses across two Hawaiian Islands participated in a virtual Photovoice process. Results: Results illustrated several unexpected positive outcomes from the transition to hybrid or virtual formats including opportunities for growth, learning new technology, cross-Clubhouse collaborations, deepened relationships, and better access to some hard-to-reach members. Persistent challenges included members reporting "something missing" in the socioemotional quality of virtual engagement and losing members who had low digital literacy or who preferred in-person engagement. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Overall, participants described that virtual Clubhouse supported their wellness by fostering a sense of purpose, companionship, and potential, despite sustained uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they also made clear that virtual and hybrid formats should be a complement to, not a replacement for, in-person Clubhouse services. Impact and Implications Results underscore the importance of community mental health centers, such as Clubhouses, maintaining a warm, thriving in-person community, while expanding fun virtual opportunities that focus on coengagement (rather than exclusively talking). Online communications can foster new opportunities and sustain crucial relationships. Optimally, they provide space for relaxed, informal discussion, as well as directed coengagement. Challenges include low digital literacy, training, technology access, and some members experiencing less therapeutic value from virtual engagement compared to in-person engagement.