Comments on: Effectiveness of Mutual Support Groups http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php Understand your mind with the science of psychology - Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php/comment-page-1#comment-20335 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Fri, 17 Aug 2007 08:51:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php#comment-20335 Ed, thanks very much for pointing out these resources - really interesting. I will take a look. Ed, thanks very much for pointing out these resources - really interesting. I will take a look.

]]> By: EdinNJ http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php/comment-page-1#comment-20331 EdinNJ Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:42:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php#comment-20331 For a summary of over forty rigorous outcome research studies of self-help (i.e., member-run) mutual help groups, you can see a copy of the chapter from the last 7th Edition of our "Self-Help Group Sourcebook" at: <br />http://www.chce.research.va.gov/docs/pdfs/KyrouzHumphreysLoomis2002.pdf<br /><br />There we also provide:<br /><br />a keyword-searchable database of over 1,100 national, international, and model self-help support groups for most any specific illness, disability, addiction, bereavement situation, parenting, caregiver concern, abuse, or other stressful life situation;<br /><br />listing of local non-profit self-help group clearinghouses worldwide http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/selfhelp.php?id=859<br /><br />suggestions for developing both community and online mutual help groups.<br /><br />* Ed at the American & N.J. Self-Help Group Clearinghouses, Saint Clare's Health System, www.selfhelpgroups.org<br /><br /><br /><br />"Mutual support groups, involving little or no cost to participants, have a powerful effect on mental and physical health... The psychological and physical health importance of this diffuse community is striking... The self-help movement, both in face-to-face and virtual arenas, has tremendous therapeutic potential." <br />from American Psychologist feature article "Who Talks?: The Social Psychology of Illness Support Groups" by K. P. Davison, J. W. Pennebaker, & S.S. Dickerson, (55) 2, pp. 205-217, 2000. For a summary of over forty rigorous outcome research studies of self-help (i.e., member-run) mutual help groups, you can see a copy of the chapter from the last 7th Edition of our "Self-Help Group Sourcebook" at:
http://www.chce.research.va.gov/docs/pdfs/KyrouzHumphreysLoomis2002.pdf

There we also provide:

a keyword-searchable database of over 1,100 national, international, and model self-help support groups for most any specific illness, disability, addiction, bereavement situation, parenting, caregiver concern, abuse, or other stressful life situation;

listing of local non-profit self-help group clearinghouses worldwide http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/selfhelp.php?id=859

suggestions for developing both community and online mutual help groups.

* Ed at the American & N.J. Self-Help Group Clearinghouses, Saint Clare's Health System, http://www.selfhelpgroups.org

"Mutual support groups, involving little or no cost to participants, have a powerful effect on mental and physical health... The psychological and physical health importance of this diffuse community is striking... The self-help movement, both in face-to-face and virtual arenas, has tremendous therapeutic potential."
from American Psychologist feature article "Who Talks?: The Social Psychology of Illness Support Groups" by K. P. Davison, J. W. Pennebaker, & S.S. Dickerson, (55) 2, pp. 205-217, 2000.

]]> By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php/comment-page-1#comment-20325 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:51:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php#comment-20325 Will, yes, this is exactly the thing that these types of studies have to tip-toe around. It might be argued that there's no need for trained therapists if lay people can do the job just as well - but this is (probably) wrong. <br /><br />It will always depend what type of mental distress people are in. These studies cover some moderate depression, bereavement and some other types of mental illness. This is far from the whole panoply that a professional therapist deals with. <br /><br />It's probably better to think of trained therapists working in tandem with mutual support groups. Will, yes, this is exactly the thing that these types of studies have to tip-toe around. It might be argued that there's no need for trained therapists if lay people can do the job just as well - but this is (probably) wrong.

It will always depend what type of mental distress people are in. These studies cover some moderate depression, bereavement and some other types of mental illness. This is far from the whole panoply that a professional therapist deals with.

It's probably better to think of trained therapists working in tandem with mutual support groups.

]]> By: Will http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php/comment-page-1#comment-20320 Will Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:56:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/effectiveness-of-mutual-support-groups.php#comment-20320 These results may also speak to the value of professional training in psychotherapy, eh?<br /><br />It makes me wonder if a) people suffering from these problems need sympathy and nurturing (from one or more people) more than they need expert help; b) the "wisdom of crowds" in terms of helping someone get through difficulties is nearly equivalent to expert-level training; c) the success of the support group can be attributed to its methods and format being designed by a professional; or d) some other factor that I've overlooked. These results may also speak to the value of professional training in psychotherapy, eh?

It makes me wonder if a) people suffering from these problems need sympathy and nurturing (from one or more people) more than they need expert help; b) the "wisdom of crowds" in terms of helping someone get through difficulties is nearly equivalent to expert-level training; c) the success of the support group can be attributed to its methods and format being designed by a professional; or d) some other factor that I've overlooked.

]]>