Characteristics and service use of long-term members of self-help agencies for mental health clients.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the characteristics of long-term members of self-help agencies managed and staffed by mental health clients, why they sought help from the agencies, and how they differed from clients of community mental health agencies.


METHODS
A survey and assessment instruments were used to obtain information on the service utilization of 310 long-term agency members as well as on their resources, history of disability, functional status, psychological disability, health problems, and DSM-III-R diagnosis. Data from management information systems of the self-help and community mental health agencies were used to compare service populations.


RESULTS
The self-help agencies served a primarily African-American population (64 percent), many of whom were homeless (46 percent). Eighty-seven percent had confirmed DSM-III-R diagnoses, and 50 percent had dual diagnoses with moderate to severe substance or alcohol abuse or dependence. They had sought help from the self-help agencies primarily for resources such as food or clothing, for "a place to be," or because they were homeless. Obtaining counseling or help for substance or alcohol abuse was a less important reason for coming to the self-help agencies.


CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of the persons served by the self-help agencies in the study were homeless and had a dual diagnosis of mental disorder and substance abuse. The self-help agencies provided their clients with material resources while community mental health agencies provided psychotherapeutic and medical care.
Segal
S P
SP
Center for Self-Help Research, Berkeley, CA 94612, USA.
Silverman
C
C
Temkin
T
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data