Fontenehuset i Oslo Project: Bokstøtten 2004-2007 A wish to do more for students with mental problems Inspired by Fountain House, Copenhagen (Bogstotten)

Fontenehuset i Oslo

Project: Bokstøtten 2004-2007

• A wish to do more for students with mental problems

• Inspired by Fountain House, Copenhagen (Bogstotten)

• Project aim– Make it possible to continue studies in spite of mental problems– Make it possible to start/restart studies in spite of mental problems– Help students with mental problems identify or reconsider study-/carrierer-

plans

• Target group, students in Oslo with:– Mental problems that seriously affected their studies– Difficulties in completing thesis’, in concentrating on their reading, anxiety

before exams, etc– Problems with handling the social life at university or home

1st year • Part of SAS-unit (Study, work and maintainance)

• Project leader followed up student members and members considering to become students

• Experience from this year:– Students did not take part in unit meetings – Students felt alienated/not included– Students did not get an understanding of the model– Students were not included socially

2nd year: Establishing a study unit

• Reasons to become a separate unit:– Include students in the clubhouse community– Develop relationships among the students – Make the students responsible for unit work:

• Cleaning and tidying own room• Unit statistics• Developing the unit• Mail correspondence• Support each other

Unit base

Library/meeting room

Unit meeting with cake

Unit area– Unit base (with 2 computers)– 1 computer lab (5 computers)– 2 study rooms– Small library/meeting

2 staff members responsible for:• Supervison

– Find studies and information about different schools/universities– How to fill in applications– Make a study plan– Motivate and support– Guidance on written papers– Study techniques– Support during meeting/oral exams at university

• Running the unit• Other clubhouse responsibilites; economy• Informal support during the day

Examples of what our students studied:

• Class in logistics • French class• Mathematics at high school level • High school• Carpenter trainee • Physics at bachelor level • Bachelor of Arts• Advanced diploma in Lighting and stage technology• Bachelor of Library and information• Bachelor of Literature• Bachelor of Social work• Bachelor of Philosophy• Bachelor of Agriculture • Multicultural understanding• Master of Political science• Master of Communication• Master of Arts

Statistics

2005 (from June) 2006

Daily attendance 9 11

Reading 3 4

Computer work 5 6

Supervision 2 3

WOD 4 6

3rd year • Many of the students achieved their educational goals• Students experienced support at all levels – at any time• Mutual support between the students• The study unit: social and popular• The daily attendance in the Study unit represented 20 %

of the whole clubhouse’ daily attendance

The Study Unit was a success!

HoweverFiO experienced during 2005 –2006:• A lot of newcomers

– With focus on finding a job/completing their studies – wanted support– Therefore little participation in WOD– Result:

• In spite of large daily attendance we had problems getting the work done

• Study unit– The partnership model did not work:

• ”Staff did all the work” because

• members of the unit where occupied with own work and not clubhouse work

– Conclusion:• Unit had to be organised differently. Possible solutions:

– Members from other units should come and work– Study support should be organised as part of all units

Fontenehuset i Oslo decided:

To close down the study unit because:

– We want members – not consumers

– We want to work side by side – not work as a service office

– We want study support to be an offer to our members as part of their rehabilitation process at the Clubhouse

Project conclusionsCriterias for success – to achieve educational goals:

1. Support to clarify if one is ready to study2. Support to figure out what to study3. Support during the studies

• Someone to talk to whenever neccessary• Social network in general, and with other student especially• Motivation• Study technique• Structure and planning• Wake up call• Safe environment

13 % of students in Norway have mental problems. FiO can not serve them all! Universities and high schools have the responsibiltity.

Study support at Fontenehuset i Osloin the future

• Work unit responsibility • Part of MUS (Member supervison)

– Clarify if one is ready to study– Support to find out what to study– Support during the study

• Social network at the Clubhouse• Reading rooms• Computer lab