Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 49(1), Mar 2026, 37-45; doi:10.1037/prj0000675
Objective: The primary objective of this study was to develop and apply an economic model to estimate cost savings associated with participation in the clubhouse program for individuals with serious mental illness. Methods: Using a prevalence-based economic model, this study estimated per-person annual cost savings for clubhouse participants. Data from existing research incorporates adjustment factors such as serious mental illness type, health care utilization, participation years, and visit frequency. Costs are calculated across six categories: inpatient and noninpatient mental health care, physical health care, criminal legal system costs, Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and productivity losses. Results: Results indicate estimated cost savings of $11,374 annually for clubhouse participants compared with nonparticipants. These savings are based on a prototypical participant with average needs, characterized by a general serious mental illness diagnosis, average health care utilization levels, 4 years of participation, and three-monthly visits. Significant cost reductions were observed across all categories, particularly in productivity losses, criminal legal system costs, and health care expenditures. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Findings suggest that clubhouse participation may generate substantial cost savings by reducing health care needs and productivity losses through clubhouse’s community-focused therapeutic model. These results support integrating community-based social support programs into value-based care models. Future research should validate these findings with real-world cohort data and examine the mechanisms driving cost savings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)