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Problems in Assessing Prevalence and Membership Characteristics of Self-Help Group Participants

Relying on secondary analysis of three surveys, this study examines the prevalence of self-help group (SHG) use. Two of the surveys are based on large household probability samples (Epidemiological Catchment Area and Mellinger-Balter surveys) and the third on the population of self-help groups in California. Based on the best available survey information, an estimated 7.5 million adults participated in a SHG during 1992. Self-help group use for mental health problems appears to be a predominately White, middle-class phenomenon. Use of services is overlapping; those who seek out help do so in multiple service delivery modalities. Highlighted in this article are the problems of accurately assessing SHG participation based on current survey information.