New York levels up funding for mental health 'clubhouses'

By Evan Dawson,

Megan Mack, Julie Williams

Published August 25, 2026 at 2:10 PM EDT

Two people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a woman at left has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a white blazer over a black top; a balding man at right is wearing eyeglasses and a dark grey button-down shirt.

1 of 4 — Jamie Comenale with host Evan Dawson on "Connections"

Jamie Comenale with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Julie Williams / WXXI News

A bald man with a brown beard is wearing glasses and a dark sweater and standing outside with his arms crossed against his chest.

2 of 4 — Alex Baldassare

Alex Baldassare

Blooming Images / Provided

A woman with short brown hair is sitting in a white room and wearing a black sweater.

3 of 4 — Liz Breier

Liz Breier

Provided

A man with dark hair and a dark beard is wearing a button-down shirt, blazer, tie and eyeglasses.

4 of 4 — Philip Fleming.png

Philip Fleming

Provided

New York State recently announced a multimillion-dollar investment in the expansion of clubhouses, which are community hubs for mental health support.

As reported by WXXI's Noelle Evans, clubhouses serve people with mental illnesses like major depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, bipolar and mood disorders.

Some of its concepts challenge typical ideas about mental illness. We discuss how it works toward the goal of saving and improving lives.

Our guests:

Liz Breier, chief advocacy officer for the New York State Office of Mental Health
Jamie Comenale, chief program officer at East House
Alex Baldassare, senior director of strategic growth at Fountain House
Phillip Fleming, Hon. D.Div., board member at Fountain House and member of the Fountain House Clubhouse