Self-help and self-help groups for people with long-lasting health problems or mental health difficulties in a Nordic context: A review

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 2011-12, Vol.39 (8), p.813-822
• Main Authors: AGLEN, BJØRG, HEDLUND, MARIANNE, LANDSTAD, BODIL J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Alternative therapy; Biological and medical sciences; chronic disease; Chronic Disease - psychology; Chronic Disease - therapy; Complementary Therapies; complementary therapy; coping; Disability; Disabled Persons - psychology; Empowerment; Health problems; Health Promotion; Health services; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental Health; Mental illness; Miscellaneous; Nordic countries; Psychological factors; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Review article; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Self Care; Self-help; Self-Help Groups; Selfhelp; Selfhelp groups; Survival strategy; Therapy
• ISSN: 1403-4948; 1651-1905; 1651-1905
• DOI: 10.1177/1403494811425603

Aim: The aim of this review is to provide systematic knowledge of research from Nordic countries about the meaning of self-help and self-help groups when these are used as a concept or method addressing issues related to long-lasting health problems or mental health difficulties. Methods: Included were studies conducted in the Nordic countries that were published between January 1999 and September 2009. These studies investigated self-help and self-help groups addressing issues related to long-lasting health problems. Results: A total of 83 publications met the inclusion criteria. Four major characteristics of self-help were found to be present in the publications: self-help as an intrapsychological process, self-help as an interpsychological or group process, self-help as a coping, individual learning or empowerment process, and self-help as an alternative or complement to medical treatment. Of the 83 studies, 72 publications used a professional treatment perspective for studying self-help and 11 publications used a perspective derived from alternative or complementary therapies. Conclusions: The review shows that most of the research on self-help and self-help groups for people with longlasting health problems or disability is conducted with an interest to improve the professional healthcare system. That is, the health-promotion strategy is mainly considered in the framework of treatment or care settings. This means that self-help in this context does not challenge the dominant biomédical health model.