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The Substance of a Support Group

This ethnographic research constitutes a study of the culture of a family-run advocacy organization for families of children and youth with mental health needs. Data collection includes 703 pages of interview transcripts, observations, field notes, and archival material collected by the principle investigator during 2.5 years of participant observation with this support group. This article provides the context for the study and describes the support group's cultural ideologies and cultural forms that are a concrete expression of those ideologies. There are four major categories of cultural forms as follows: symbols, language, narratives or stories, and practices. Manifestations of each form are discussed and described. The proliferation of support and advocacy groups in the mental health arena promises a rich source of understanding of the needs of families in distress as well as inspiration for new and practical interventions.