Fountain Houses function as daily activity centers for individuals between 16 and 66 years old who live with mental illness, with no specific diagnosis required, according to official sources. The activity is designed to help members break isolation, create a meaningful and structured everyday life, and eventually start working or studying. Participation is voluntary and unpaid, and members choose themselves how often, with which tasks, and how long they want to be involved.
At the Fountain House in Örebro, for example, there is the opportunity to try and work with different types of tasks, such as cooking, writing in the newspaper, or gardening. For members who want to get into work or studies, individually tailored support is offered, including help writing a CV or finding an internship placement. Anni and Felicia found their way to Örebro's Fountain House last year through #framtid, a project that for three years has provided support to young people in the municipality who neither work nor study.
You can set yourself at any level. You can come here just to get out of the apartment and go somewhere.
Anni, a member, noted, 'You can set yourself at any level. ' The current number of members at the Fountain House in Örebro has not been disclosed, and specific outcomes or success rates for members transitioning to work or studies remain unclear.
Be here for five minutes, have a coffee, and then go home if you want.