title: Use of self-help services and consumer satisfaction with professional mental health services.
abstract: This study tested the hypothesis that users of mental health self-help services would be more satisfied with professional mental health services than clients who did not use self-help services. A survey was administered to 311 clients of professional mental health services, 151 (49 percent) of whom were users of self-help services. A multiple regression model showed that the use of self-help services was associated with greater satisfaction with professional mental health services. This finding provides support for the idea that the use of self-help services encourages appropriate use of professional services. The study provided evidence that self-help and traditional mental health services can function complementarily rather than in competition with one another.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, School of Social Work, 65211, USA. hodgesjq@missouri.edu
authors.forename: John Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markward
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keele
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires