title: Mutual help groups: an important gateway to wellbeing and mental health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the impact of GROW, an Australia-wide community mental health organisation, on psychological wellbeing and mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Triangulation of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed. The study included a cross-sectional and a longitudinal survey of GROW members together with ethnographic and phenomenological work.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results pointed to length of membership/extent of involvement in GROW activities as being associated with improved wellbeing in the areas of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, and self-acceptance/purpose in life, together with a reduction in medication and hospitalisation. In a longitudinal study surveying the wellbeing of 28 new GROW members with 6-month follow-up, there were statistically significant improvements on all wellbeing factors. A major theme emerging from ethnographic and phenomenological research was that GROW offers a "real life" mini-community where people learn social and life management skills. However, beyond skills acquisition, GROW offers the potential for identity transformation by assisting the realisation of core human needs - a sense of feeling useful, valuable and belonging.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. lizziefinn@iprimus.com.au
authors.forename: Lisabeth D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Neville H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Sparrow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D014904:Western Australia