PROFESSIONAL VIEWS OF SELF-HELP GROUPS

The authors report data from a survey of mental health professionals who are employed in community mental health centers, private hospital psychiatric units, and state hospitals. Respondents rated how helpful they perceived professionally-led, support, and self-help groups. Results suggest that professionals may hold certain attitudes that may interfere with collaboration with self-help organizations. Additional results indicate that the settings in which professionals work have more impact on their Views of helping groups than their professional identity. Suggestions are made for professional education which is setting rather than professional identity based.