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Editorial |
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SELF - HELP GROUP |
| Mental disorders cause enormous burden on the individual and the family members. It can causes economic and social burden for the families in addition to the burden associated with stigma, violations of human rights and freedom. Chronic mental illnesses take a tremendous toll on the emotional and socio economic capabilities of relatives who care for the patient, especially when the health system is unable to offer treatment and support at an early stage .(WHO 1999). Family intervention techniques are found to be useful in reducing the burden experienced by relatives. formation of self - help groups is one of the intervention strategies that can be applied in the psycho social management of chronic mental disorders and alcohol and drug related problems. |
| Self-help groups are voluntarary, small group structures formed by peers who come together for mutual assistance in handling a life disrupting problem. A distinguishing characteristics of the self help group is its homogeneity. Members suffer from the same disorder, and they share their experiences, good and bad, successful and unsuccessful. By doing so they educate one another, provide mutual support and alleviate the sense of alienation that is usually felt by the person drawn to types of self help group exist. Members are drawn from different segments of the society, but regardless of their socio economic backgrounds, they are alike in that they are mutually dependent because of their disorder or handicap. |
| The best known self help group is Alcoholic Anonymous which was founded in 1934 by two alcoholics, one of whom was a physician Alcoholic Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength and hope with each other, so that they may solve their common problem help others to recover from alcoholism. Through mutual aid, members help one another to maintain abstinence and also to bring about social or personal change. |
| The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. They are self supporting through their own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, political organization or institution. The primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Al-Anon. the self help group for the spouses, relatives and friends of alcoholics was started by Lois, wife of Bill.W, Cofounder of alcoholic Anonymous. Al-a teen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members usually teenagers whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking. Narcotic Anonymous was formed in July 1953, with the first meeting held in Southern California. The fellowship grew quickly and spread to various parts of United States. |
| Active involvement of the family members is an essential in gradient of comprehensive management of schizophrenia. Patients and their families are taking an active role in the treatment process. Their goals include increasing their influence on treatment planning and implementation, becoming less dependent on professionals, decreasing the stigma associated with mental illness. Self-help groups in schizophrenia can be (a) Patient organizations (b) self-help treatment organizations and (c) Relatives Organizations. |
| a. Patient Organizations |
| The principal goal of these independent organizations founded by patients them selves is to advocate and work for the patients right, to exercise choice in the selection of treatments including the possible choice of no treatment at all. |
| b. Self-help treatment Organization |
| These Organization are in general similar to the original prototype, Alcoholic Anonymous. Methods are Basically educational and cognitive. |
| c. Relative Organizations |
| These groups are the largest of the three types and are made up mostly of parents of individuals with schizophrenia. They seek to improve services within organized psychiatry through education and advocacy. Studies have suggested that helping families, educate and empower themselves and helping to become more involved in service delivery results in better outcome. |
| Demeting disorders are another group of illness associated with an enormous burden of care. Dementia does not simply effect the person who has it. It profoundly changes the lives of those family members who are close to that person. Care giving in dementia is time consuming, frustrating and demanding task which can live the caregiver fatigued depressed, angry and alone. Caregivers meetings provide support in a group setting. Group allow for the ventilation of feelings and development of a group process. It provide opportunities for caregivers to come together, share their problems and solutions and share their problems and solutions and acknowledge and affirm each others caregiving effort. Living and caring for a person with dementia demands newer and newer coping strategies from the Caregiver. Caregivers meeting provide and opportunity to learn better as demands are changing. |
| Many studies have demonstrated the value of encouraging patients and their relatives to participate in self help group both in physical and mental disorders. Psychological interventions to support patients emotionally and to enhance their quality of life should be considered as an essential element in medical care. This is very much relevant in any chronic mental or neurological disorders. |
As mental health
professionals we are in face to face confrontation with many issues in
mental health in our day to day practice. We see that ignorance, stigma
and fear of mental illness is widely prevalent. We are well aware of the
myriads of problems faced by our patients and relatives. Many a times we
are not able to intervene in these issues in an effective manner.
Formation of self help groups would be an important step forward to deal
with these problems. It may be an easy and effective means of educating
the public and change their perception of the problems. It may empower
them to solve their problems themselves and may provide the support that
is needed. As professionals we are the persons to initiate and co-ordinate
such activities and programmes in our country.
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