Introduction to the special issue on mental health self-help.
Since the 1950s, people with mental illness and their families have been organizing a wide range of self-directed, mutual support oriented initiatives, including self-help groups, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. These initiatives have become increasingly widespread over the years and today mental health self-help initiatives outnumber traditional mental health organizations in the United States (Goldstrom et al., Admin Policy Mental Health Mental Health Serv Res 33:92-103, 2006). Mental health self-help embodies much of what community psychologists promote, including the self-directed organization of people to create social change and facilitate personal transformation. This special issue provides new insight into several prominent areas of inquiry surrounding these low-cost interventions including: (1) their evidence base; (2) the processes by which people benefit; (3) how they interface with the mental health system; and (4) the value dilemmas they face.
Brown
Louis D
LD
The Pennsylvania State University, 135 E. Nittany Avenue, Suite 402, State College, PA 16801, USA. ldb12@psu.edu
Shepherd
Matthew D
MD
Wituk
Scott A
SA
Meissen
Greg
G
D003255:Consumer Organizations; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States