By Aaron Olsen
M E N TA L H E A LT H S T R U G G L E S AND HOW THE CLUBHOUSE G AV E H E R H O PE
MEET JENNIE IRBY Jennie Irby
Jennie Irby is a member of the special needs community here in Indianapolis, and she wants people to know how important it is to get involved with the community. She currently works part-time at TJ Maxx with the assistance of the Circle City Clubhouse. Jennie was born in Indiana and has three sisters and a brother. She also has three adult children. When Jennie was younger, she attended Ivy Tech and IUPUI, studying early childhood education. Unfortunately, she was not able to graduate as she was diagnosed with bipolar schizoaffective disorder.
Schizoaffective disorder is a condition that shares symptoms with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. When most people hear about schizoaffective disorder, they generally assume the condition is the same as schizophrenia, but this isn’t correct. Schizophrenia is defined as a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Schizophrenia is generally thought to be the most common and disabling “purely” mental disorder. Schizophrenia always involves a form of psychosis, a type of mental illness in which a person can’t tell what’s real from what’s imagined. The severity of schizophrenia varies from person to person and is generally judged by the length, frequency, and intensity of the psychotic episodes. By comparison, schizoaffective disorder generally involves symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder (like bipolar disorder). Both schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia typically aren’t apparent until a person is 16 and can lay dormant until 30.
In Jennie’s case, her disorder caused her to struggle with hallucinations. Eventually, she was given medication to address this issue, and with the support of the Circle City Clubhouse, she was able to start part-time employment at TJ Maxx. Outside of work, Jennie enjoys singing, listening to music, and watching television. She enjoys the music of Adele and Andrea Bocelli, and her favorite TV shows are Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Law & Order SVU. The Circle City Clubhouse is a not-for-profit located on Office Plaza Blvd. in Indianapolis. Their mission is “to afford people whose lives have been drastically disrupted by mental illness the opportunity to recover meaningful and productive lives through reintegration with the workplace and the community.” The Clubhouse focuses on a structured, work-ordered day. The goal is to help members rebuild connections with others. Members participate in a weekday workgroup and at least one evening activity a week. The Clubhouse staff works with the members to assist them with finding employment, locating safe and affordable housing, and providing an environment of inclusion and acceptance. Jennie’s advice to other people in her situation is to get help and join a community. Jennie says, “[The] Circle City Clubhouse has been a big support and has helped me. As a part of the community there, I know that I am not alone. Getting to sing the national anthem as part of their ‘Polo at Sunset’ fundraising event with Hickory Hall Polo Club has really increased my self-confidence.”
May 2022 • Special Needs Living
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