Tim Bradshaw, 39, pours coffee Nov. 17 at the Recovery Cafe, which employs mental health system clients who are stable and living on their own but haven't been able to hold a job. Photo by Clint Karlsen. Recovery Cafe patrons eat lunch Nov. 17 at the cafe inside the Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital at Jones and Oakey boulevards. Photo by Clint Karlsen. Bret Walker, who suffers from depression, talks about his design of the Recovery Cafe on Friday. Photo by Jane Kalinowsky.

From the color schemes to the wall decor to the furniture, Bret Walker's vision for the Recovery Cafe was that it be warm and inviting.

It took him a few weeks to design the eatery inside the new Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital at Jones and Oakey boulevards.

Walker's eye for interior design comes naturally. But like many people who are mentally ill, the 44-year-old's depression often overshadows his creativity. He has difficulty holding down a stable job and staying positive about life, and he has cycled in and out of the state's mental health system.

But for now, seeing his design through to completion has given him a sense of purpose and rekindled his confidence. Walker said it's the first project he has worked on that has become permanent.

"We all need a soft place to land, and this was it for me,'' he said. "I can take what I've done here and all the positive responses I've received and use it to my advantage. I know I can do it now. I feel good.''

Counselors and program directors for Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services hope the Recovery Cafe will have their clients feeling more positive as well -- for they'll be the ones staffing it.

Dr. David Rosin, medical director of the state's Mental Health Division, envisioned the Recovery Cafe as a way to employ clients of the mental health system who are stable and living on their own but haven't been able to hold a job in the work force.

"For whatever reason, they just can't keep a job,'' said Kim Cantiero, director of the Psyche Social Rehabilitation program. "Through our work program we have vendors that we send our clients to for jobs. What often happens is they (vendors) will call us and tell us there is a problem. Our clients will lose the job or just leave. Unfortunately, we're not there to see how the client is performing and don't know the extent of the problem.''

The Psyche Social Rehabilitation program, which is part of Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, assists individuals with severe mental disorders in building skills to meet the demands of daily living and move toward self-sufficiency. The program consists of recreational activities, socialization opportunities, independent living skills training and job training. It also aims to help the mentally ill cope with and manage their mental illness.

When the mentally ill lose a job, it can become a setback, Cantiero said. They become depressed, stop taking their medication or act out.

When that happens, what has been gained in treatment and therapy -- mostly self-confidence -- is lost.

At the Recovery Cafe, Cantiero and counselors can observe their clients working. If they see a problem, they can try to correct it.

The cafe sells sandwiches, soups, salads and beverages.

Cantiero said customers already have asked who designed the cafe. She gladly gives them Walker's name.

A few clients hold management positions, requiring accounting, inventory control and scheduling skills.

Jill Godin, a counselor in the system, said the goal of the Recovery Cafe is to reinforce the importance of time management, attendance, appearance, personal hygiene and a positive attitude.

"We want to fine-tune their skills,'' Godin said. "Having them work here first, that gives us a major advantage in ensuring that they are learning the right skills needed to stay in the work force and become self-sufficient.''

To work in the cafe, employees must be enrolled in the Psyche Social Rehabilitation program, go through a job interview and have a stable home. They also must be taking their medications regularly and get approval from their counselor.

Those hired are matched with jobs based on their work skills, Godin said.

One cafe employee, Elaine Dolan, 65, says she's already feeling more confident about her life and her ability to get a job outside the Recovery Cafe, although she admits not having mastered the cash register.

"I didn't have the emotional strength to advocate for myself, and I lost my ability to work,'' said Dolan, who has been in the state's mental health system since 1997 and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety.

"I always tell people, the medications I take, they clean up the cobwebs fogging my brain. That way I can be stable,'' Dolan said. "The next step is to get some job skills, the kind that can prevent me from getting upset if I feel like I've failed.''

Veronica Garcia, 44, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, which manifests a combination of the symptoms of depression and schizophrenia, echoed Dolan.

"I know I will always be mentally ill, but that doesn't mean I can't be a productive citizen,'' Garcia said. "I would like to be self-sufficient and get off disability. I think this will be a good start for me on that path.''

Walker, who conjures up stories for his design work, said the one he came up with for the Recovery Cafe is that of a Mediterranean-style town square. Many years ago, the town and its people overcame some sort of battle, similar to the struggle with mental illness. And today, it is highly functional and peaceful.

"This town is a nice secure vacation spot,'' Walker said. "For us, this is a town square that can hopefully make us forget that we are in a hospital or mentally ill. Just like everyone else, we're struggling to survive.''