A great deal of misinformation and stigma around mental illness still exists. Many people who have initial contact with a person who is untreated, or experiencing acute episodes of illness, often have inaccurate information or misconceptions about people with mental illness. Public awareness of mental illness is still not on par with physical illnesses such as diabetes or cancer.
As a result, people suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression often end up institutionalized, incarcerated, or living in the community without medication or community supports. Because of their illness, these men and women are often not able to advocate for themselves. Their health and well-being are deeply compromised, and they often wind up living on the margins of society, their potential untapped.
Fountain House members have first-hand experience with the type of prejudices and misinformation that prove harmful to someone in need of treatment with psychiatric illness. Interactions with law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, physicians, and social workers, have not always been positive.
Fountain House has devised a successful, evidence-based approach to providing information and training to those likely to come into contact with a seriously ill person at a crossroads in their illness. By sharing their own experiences, Fountain House members address misperceptions. They offer proof that, with appropriate treatment and community supports, recovery is possible. Fountain House members and staff share their expertise to give a variety of community groups the information they need to help people with mental illness gain access to consistent, respectful, and quality treatment.
The program develops and drives initiatives that educate the community beyond Fountain House and within our clubhouse. Our over-reaching objectives are to provide sound information about mental illness, mental health, life, illness challenges and the realities of recovery. All education is infused with positive expectations and addresses the uniquesness of the Fountain House model - our program, principles and practices.
Program strategies include group workshops, written training materials, and filmed training. All include the perspective of the mental health consumer. In-person workshops are interactive and facilitated by Fountain House staff and members who are mental health consumers.
Through this initiative, Fountain House targets:
Police Officers – Fountain House makes presentations throughout the year at New York City police precincts and the Brooklyn Police Academy's Leadership Training Program for Sergeants and Lieutenants, which provides training to NYPD officers from all boroughs. Last year, representatives from Fountain House wrote a new chapter on “Interaction with People with a Mental Illness,” which has been accepted by the NYPD as part of its training manual for all new police recruits. We continue to serve a consulting role. Since Fountain House began working with our local police precinct seven years ago, following the unfortunate beating of one of our members, there has not been a single incident of mistreatment of a mental health consumer in this precinct. Numbers reached: 100 annually.
Medical Students - Two-thirds of prescriptions for psychiatric disorders are not written by psychiatrists. Many doctors will only ever encounter people with mental illness in acute states through emergency rooms. Community Education groups from Fountain House speak to classes of first year medical students at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Numbers reached annually: 150.
Paramedics/EMTs - Fountain House has created a 15-minute video that is used as part of the curriculum of the Crisis 1 class, taken by 99% of all paramedics and firefighter trainees in New York City. The FDNY Fire Academy is also using the video as part of the curriculum at the new Fire Department High School in East New York, Brooklyn. Numbers reached annually: more than 1,000.
Social Work Students – Fountain House makes presentations to students at the Hunter College of Social Work. Numbers reached annually: 40 - 60.
Family and Friends – Fountain House offers an annual open house and eight-part educational workshop series for family members and friends of those with mental illness on topics such as What Is Mental Illness?; Understanding Medication and Side Effects; Interpersonal Relationships; Navigating the Mental Health System; Stigma and Advocacy; and Possibilities and Recovery. In 2005, we plan to develop a one-day weekend conference to reach out to friends and family outside the New York metro area. Numbers reached annually: 200.
Corporate Community – Through partnerships with New York City corporations in our employment programs, Fountain House provides information and education to employers on the signs of mental illness and on positive prognosis. We also host an annual Employer's Evening at Fountain House where members share their personal struggles with illness, and their successes in returning to the workforce.
For more information or to request a workshop, please contact Donny Lee at (212) 582-0340, extension 309.
