title: A qualitative exploration of a family self-help mental health program in El Salvador.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a significant gap in our knowledge regarding community-based self-help groups and their benefits for persons living with mental conditions and their family caregivers in low and middle income countries. This study describes a such a program in El Salvador and explores participants' perceptions of program effectiveness and benefits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Family Education, Support and Empowerment Program is a multi-component program in the capital that is facilitated by nonprofit professionals but carried out primarily by volunteers. A focus group methodology to build evaluation and research capacity in the organization was used. The study consisted of a questionnaire completed by participants individually, followed by two focus group sessions with the same ten people.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found perceptions of multiple benefits across social, functional, and economic dimensions and a variety of achievements at organizational and national levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified a family self-help program in El Salvador as a potentially highly beneficial program for its participants. This appears to be the first study to explore benefits across micro, mezzo and macro social levels and to include discussion of more diverse potential benefits such as individual and organizational social capital, leadership, and advocacy. These factors should be explored in future quantitative studies to help determine the relative importance and usefulness of such programs in meeting World Health Organization goals for access to mental health treatment and quality community-based services.
authors.affiliation: James Madison University, 800 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA ; The Center for Health and Human Development, 340 Maryland Ave, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 USA.
authors.forename: Samuel V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nickels
authors.affiliation: Association for Training and Research in Mental Health, ACISAM, Residencial Montebello, Avenida Monte Urales, Casa #10F, Mexicanos, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors.forename: Nelson A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Flamenco Arvaiza
authors.affiliation: Association for Training and Research in Mental Health, ACISAM, Residencial Montebello, Avenida Monte Urales, Casa #10F, Mexicanos, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors.forename: Myrna S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rojas Valle
keywords: Community based rehabilitation; El Salvador; Empowerment; Family program; Global mental health; Leadership; Self-help group; Social capital