Cafe for care

In anticipation of the R U OK 2 Day? celebration in Dandenong Park on 11 October – a fun festival aiming to help raise awareness of mental health issues – Star
reporter Shaun Inguanzo this week looks at the MadCap Cafe in the
Dandenong Plaza, a transitional employer of mentally ill people who are
trying to break back into the workforce.
MOST people visit a cafe to relax and unwind.
But for Dandenong’s Youssef Ziouane, it’s where he goes to rehabilitate.
The 43-year-old was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his wife left him two years ago, but today he is an entirely different person thanks to being able to work at the MadCap Café in the Dandenong Plaza.
The café, started by businessman Anthony Cheeseman last month, is a transitional employer for people with a mental illness who are trying their best to re-enter the workforce.
Mr Ziouane said it was the cafe’s social setting that had helped him regain his sense of self-confidence and to feel happier following what he described as a traumatic break-up with his wife.
“I have made a family here,” he said.
“I’ve found people I can really relate to.”
Mr Ziouane works 10 hours per week but said his employer was flexible.
The cafe, backed by the Eastern Regions Mental Health Association (ERMHA), trains employees in various hospitality skills, and will soon begin to bake its own food on the premises.
ERMHA CEO Peter Waters said the best part of MadCap’s back-to-work strategy was that Mr Ziouane could advance at his own pace, and move on when he felt it was the right time.
He said focusing on aspects of life other than the mental illness was often the key to a speedy recovery – and MadCap provided just that.
“When the illness is all you focus on, it takes control,” Mr Waters said.
Mr Ziouane is unsure how he developed schizophrenia in the wake of his separation. But he said he was not aware of it – and it took external forces to find him help.
“I didn’t take it very well, and started going funny,” Mr Ziouane said.
“I had someone with me all the time, and then suddenly after 15 years, she was gone.
“I started hallucinating, hearing voices in my head.”
Mr Ziouane said it was after he went to Dandenong Police Station to report his van stolen – after giving a stranger the keys – that they had him admitted to hospital.
After being medicated and then released, Mr Ziouane was born again – but had no recollection of how to live.
He was referred to ERMHA, based in Dandenong, which has since been helping him to find his feet.
Mr Ziouane, who migrated to Australia from France, is now hoping to cook French food at the café, he sees his children most weekends, and said although he still felt the break-up pain, was able to cope with it better.
MadCap Cafe is located on level three of the Dandenong Plaza next to Angus and Robertson.