New Jersey
Self-Help Group Clearinghouse
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Self-help
groups are member-run support groups,
where people facing the same stressful situation
come together regularly to help one another.
Most of the self-help groups listed on our Clearinghouse database can better
be described as mutual aid support groups
because they derive their energy from members helping one another. Among the
various organizations that deal with stressful life situations, we look for
those that provide opportunities for mutual help.
In addition, three other characteristics constitute a self-help group: the
group is composed of peers, i.e. people
who share a similar experience or situation; the group is primarily run by and for its members who have a sense of
ownership of the group; and the group is voluntary
and non-profit in that there are no fees
for services, although the group may charge dues or request donations
to cover their group’s costs. While
the focus of our Clearinghouse is on the utilization and development of
self-help groups that are run by the members themselves, for the benefit of
those in need of peer support, we do include in our listings some support
groups that are run by professionals (identified in the listing as
“professionally-run”). While professionally-run
support groups are not self-help groups, we include them in our
database if the meetings are free or have only a very nominal charge, and the
professional does not receive any fee from the members for facilitating the
group, and the purpose of the group is for mutual support among peers. Please
understand that there are other types of self-help organizations that do
indeed provide mutual aid and support. They include civic, ethnic, fraternal,
financial, housing, cultural, political, church and neighborhood groups —
some of which spring up naturally without even a name or with little
structure beyond their members’ mutual help discussions. However, groups in
any one of these categories could, by their nature and sheer numbers, warrant
a separate database or clearinghouse of their own, and are therefore not
included here. Have
you ever noticed that when you have a problem, how it helps to talk with
someone who has had a similar problem? Simply finding others who have
"been there" and you’re finally realizing and feeling that
"you are not alone," can in itself be a great relief. Providing
this opportunity for needed peer support is one way mutual aid self-help
groups help. With
time, some self-help groups resemble an extended family, providing a caring
community that is often available 24 hours a day without forms, fees or
appointments. Yet the groups also emphasize self-reliance, as each member
assumes responsibility for helping him or herself. Within
such groups, people who share similar problems and needs gather to help one
another cope with the problems they face. The problem may be a disability, a
chronic illness, loss of a loved one, an addiction or any one of hundreds of
other difficult life situations. Social support can make it easier to cope
with a stressful situation, and this alleviation of stress can be directly
related to the prevention of further illness and distress. Another
important way that self-help groups help is the way in which members, not
only receive help from their peers, but can also provide
help to others. Helping someone else deal with a problem that you also
experience builds self-confidence and reinforces the use of coping strategies
that have worked for you and others. Those who have been able to cope with a
particular problem can serve as valuable role models for those who are just
beginning to reach out for encouragement and practical information. For
the most part, self-help groups don’t replace needed professional services,
although they supplement and sometimes prevent the need for them. Many groups
work closely with professionals as guest speakers, advisors, trainers and
referral resources. So, when pooling their personal experiences and insights,
group members will often come to identify the specific agencies and
therapists who can best meet their needs. For actual research findings
on the proven value of particular groups, see the one “Review of Research” chapter in the
7th Edition of our national Self-Help Group Sourcebook guide. For
additional information and references on ways that self-help groups help,
contact the Clearinghouse. Our staff would be glad to share more detailed
articles on the subject. |
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