Self-help Groups Research Articles

Self-help offers for people with severe mental illness: who uses which format?

Self-help can play an important supplementary role in the treatment of people with severe mental illness; however, little is known about the utilization of the various approaches. This study describes the use of various self-help options by patients with severe mental illness and examines potential predictors. As part of the observational cross-sectional study on patients with severe mental illness (IMPPETUS, N = 397), trained staff collected sociodemographic, illness-associated and treatment-associated data between March 2019 and September 2019. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze apossible association with the use of self-help. The participants most frequently reported using self-help literature (n = 170; 45.5%) followed by self-help groups (n = 130; 33.2%), electronic mental health applications (n = 56; 15.5%) and self-management approaches (n = 54; 14.8%). Trialogue seminars (n = 36; 9.9%) were the least used by the participants. The utilization of the various approaches is influenced by sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics (age, education, marital status, migration background, age at onset of initial mental health problems, psychosocial functioning level) but not by factors associated with treatment. The potential of self-help is not being fully utilized in the sample investigated. The reported use of self-help approaches by the participants ranged between 10% and 46%. The various formats address specific target groups. More targeted information must be provided about the various options and the use of self-help in routine treatment must be actively fostered in order to increase the utilization of self-help.

SELF-HELP GROUPS: A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE FOR WOMEN’S SOCIAL STATUS

Women constitute around fifty percent of the total human resources in our economy. Yet women are the more poor and under privileged than men as they are subject to many socio-economic and cultural constraints. The situation is more severe in the rural and backward areas. Women development activities must be given importance to eradicate poverty, increase the economic growth and for better standard of living. Self Help Group (SHGs)-Bank Linkage Programme is emerging as a cost effective mechanism for providing financial services to the “Unreached Poor” which has been successful not only in meeting financial needs of the rural poor women but also strengthen collective self help capacities of the poor ,leading to their empowerment. Rapid progress in SHG formation has now turned into an empowerment movement among women across the country (Tiyas biswas, 2007). Investing in women brings about a multiplier effect. Stories of women who not only are better off economically as a result of access to financial services, but who are empowered as well. Simply getting cash into the hands of women (by way of working capital) can lead to increased self-esteem, control and empowerment by helping them achieve greater economic independence and security, which in turn gives them the chance to contribute financially to their households and communities because women “tend to keep nothing back for themselves they contribute decisively to the well-being of their families”(Susy Cheston and Lisa Kuhn, 2002).SHG by mobilizing women around thrift and credit activities have resulted in economic self reliance there by changing their social attitude and status in the family and society SHG has emerged as a key programming strategy for most of the women development activities. Key words: Bank Linkage Programme ,Empowerment, Financial Services, Self Help Group, Socio-Economic.

Public perceptions of opioid misuse recovery and related resources in a nationally representative sample of United States adults.

To understand how the US public defines recovery from opioid misuse and the recovery-related resources it views as most helpful, and to compare differences by opioid misuse history and demographic characteristics. Observational study of data from the nationally representative AmeriSpeak® Panel survey administered in October/November 2021. United States. 6515 adults (≥ 18 years). Respondents ranked 10 definitions of recovery (religious in nature; spiritual in nature; physical/mental in nature; contributing to society; enhanced quality of life; seeking professional help; having a sense of purpose; moderate/controlled substance use; no drug use; abstaining from all substance use) and 9 resources that might contribute to recovery (primary care physician; intensive inpatient program; residential rehabilitation program; self-help group; therapist/psychologist/social worker; prescribed medication; talking to family/friends; spiritual/natural healer; faith-based organization). We explored differences in rankings by opioid misuse history (personal vs. family/friend vs. no history) and demographic characteristics (race, sex, age) using multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Seeking professional help was the most endorsed recovery definition overall [mean (M) = 6.97, standard error (SE) = 0.03]. Those with personal opioid misuse history ranked enhanced quality of life (B = 0.16, P = 0.049) and having a sense of purpose (B = 0.16, P = 0.029) significantly higher, and ranked abstaining from substance use (B = -0.20, P = 0.009) significantly lower as recovery definitions than those without a history of opioid misuse. Compared with White respondents, Black (B = 0.60, P < 0.001) and Hispanic (B = 0.55, P < 0.001) respondents defined recovery as more religious in nature. Residential rehabilitation program was identified as the most helpful resource for recovery (M = 7.16, SE = 0.02), while prescribed medication received a relatively low ranking overall (M = 4.05, SE = 0.03). Those with family/friend opioid misuse history ranked prescribed medication as less helpful than others (B = -0.14, P = 0.003). The general US public's views around recovery from opioid misuse appear to focus on abstinence and formal treatment receipt, while people with a history of opioid misuse place less emphasis on abstinence and greater emphasis on other aspects of well-being.

Education about complementary and alternative medicine in cancer self-help groups by trained peers.

On average, about 50% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to conventional cancer treatment. Since there is a high need for information, patients often search for information about CAM and share experiences with peers, especially in self-help groups. In this study, we tested and evaluated an educational concept developed for group leaders of cancer self-help groups on how to approach the topic of CAM in their peer groups. The educational concept has been developed and piloted with health care professionals and representatives from different self-help organizations in Germany. It aims to inform and discuss the possibilities and limitations of CAM in terms of scientific evidence, to reflect user behavior, and to provide a guide on how to find and evaluate reliable and evidence-based information sources. First, self-help group leaders took part in an on-site training where they were educated on various CAM topics with the goal of being able to conduct the educational concept in their respective self-help groups. Then, the educated group leaders performed this concept in their groups. The educational concept was evaluated by both the group leaders and participants with respect to acceptance, usefulness, and satisfaction using paper-pencil questionnaires. The study was conducted in Germany based on an observational study design with a six-month follow-up. For the analyses, descriptive and univariate statistics for dependent samples were used. A total of n = 50 interested group leaders conducted the educational program in their groups. The most common implementation barriers were organizational or structural problems, as well as the feeling of being overwhelmed with managing the program in their groups. A total of n = 423 participants were educated with this program by their respective group leaders. The majority felt satisfied with the educational program and improved their knowledge about CAM. At the six months follow-up (T2), significantly more participants had consulted their physicians to inform themselves about CAM and felt more confident in finding reliable information about CAM. In this observational study, we have managed to successfully implement an educational concept with respect to the topic of CAM in cancer self-help groups. Based on the results, the concept approach will be modified to include both a CAM- professional and group leader to train the self-help groups. In the future, the effects of the program should be tested by a randomized trial.

How Self-Help Groups Womens Empowerment in Rural Rajasthan Mukesh Gurjar

How Self-Help Groups Womens Empowerment in Rural Rajasthan Mukesh Gurjar

Empowerment of Community Self-Help Groups (KSM) in Maggot Cultivation to Support the Economy in Pudak Village, Muaro Jambi Regency in 2024

This method is considered to provide the greatest benefits and is relatively easy to implement. One of them is by empowering the community through Community Self-Help Groups (KSM) in managing organic waste. Maggots or maggots are the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens, Stratimydae, Diptera) which is a family of flies, but the size of the BSF, known as the soldier fly, is longer and larger. Even though it is from the fly family, BSF does not transmit bacteria, diseases or even germs to humans. Like maggots, ecologically maggots are useful in the process of decomposing organic materials. Maggots eat vegetable and fruit waste, therefore maggots are very suitable for use in organic waste management. Even though it is made from organic waste, the fertilizer produced does not smell

The Influece of Self Help Group on Self Esteem of New Students

New students need to adapt to a new environment because of the differences between high school and university education. One therapeutic therapy to maintain mental or emotional health is the Self Help Group (SHG). The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of self help groups (SHG) on the self-esteem of new students of the Nursing Science Study Program, Muhammadiyah University of Gresik. This research uses a One Group PreTest – PostTest design. The population of this study were 43 new students of the Nursing Science Study Program at Muhammadiyah University of Gresik using the Total Sampling sampling technique. Researchers used Self Help Group therapy as the independent variable and self-esteem as the dependent variable. The instruments in this research used the RSES questionnaire and observation sheets. Statistical tests using Mc Nemar, research results before being given self-help group (SHG) therapy showed that almost all students had high self-esteem, 37 (86%) and after being given self-help group therapy, all students had high self-esteem, 43 (100%) . The Mc Nemar statistical test results obtained p = 0.031 so p &lt; a 0.05. So it is known that there is an influence of the Self Help Group on the self-esteem of new students of the Nursing Science Study Program, Muhammadiyah University of Gresik, so it is hoped that this therapy can be applied at the University.

Examining the Impact of Socio-economic, Demographic and Policy Factors on Reverse Migration in India During COVID-19 Pandemic

This article examines the factors that determined ‘reverse migration’ of households from urban locations in India in the aftermath of a series of lockdowns that followed the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Positioning reverse migration as a coping strategy to ameliorate negative consequences of loss of livelihood, food shortages and loss of shelter in urban India, this article examines the factors that led to the utilization of this strategy in the aftermath of lockdown during the pandemic outbreak. The article also tests whether returning to hinterland persisted after the period of lockdowns. The lockdowns had exacerbated living conditions for urban poor. Migration to rural areas continued despite various policies and programmes that the national and state governments instituted to counter the negative impact of lockdowns, particularly on low-income households. Examining the socio-economic, demographic and policy factors, this article provides evidence that family support and rural social institutions such as self-help groups played a crucial role in providing support system during pandemic even to those who migrated back from urban areas. Government programmes such as Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and access to public distribution system were also important for reverse migrants. An important result is that the first wave of reverse migration was due to family and emotional reasons that arose because of lockdowns, the second wave of migration was for economic reasons as households continued to struggle in urban areas, and the migration during the third wave was a usual seasonal migration.

Impact of Self-Help Groups on Women Empowerment in Telangana

Impact of Self-Help Groups on Women Empowerment in Telangana

Social branding for health promotion against non-communicable diseases in Maharashtra, India

Introduction: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major challenge for countries, regardless of their level of development. Social branding is an emerging approach to health promotion for NCD prevention. In this paper, the process of social branding is documented as a case study to help researchers develop similar kinds of interventions in the settings in which they work. Methods: The process of developing a social brand is documented through conversations with the project team, observations in the field, interaction with community local members, and information gathered through photographs, videos and newspaper clippings. Results: The social brand focused upon in this study was named the Aarogyachi Vaari (Health Pilgrimage) inspired by the Pandrapur Wari, a religious pilgrimage undertaken in the state of Maharashtra, India. Various stakeholders from self-help groups, panchayat raj institutions and schools from the local village collaborated successfully to implement the health event in a manner similar to the way in which diverse religious groups come together for the Pandrapur Wari religious pilgrimage. The Aarogyachi Vaari took the form of a strategically planned health event consisting of various health promotion stalls, many developed by local villagers themselves. The organisation of the event was aided by resource mobilisation within the local community. Discussion: Social branding can be an effective tool for health promotion in community settings. Studying people’s cultural preferences and what makes them feel connected and excited can lay the foundations for the creation of a social brand that reflects their choices and helps them take up healthy behaviours on their own. It is possible to mobilise a community for health through social branding that is culturally relevant and connected to the interests and priorities of local people.

Exploring the Scope and Impact of Vocational Education and Skill Development Programs on Women’s Self-Help Groups

Women's self-help groups (WSHGs) have arisen as an important tool for women's empowerment and socioeconomic development in many nations, particularly in developing areas. Skill development and vocational education programs aimed at women in these categories have received attention as possible catalysts for increasing their economic independence, social status, and general well-being. The purpose of this article is to look at the influence of skill development and vocational education efforts on women's self-help groups, with a particular emphasis on economic empowerment, community development, and female agency. Drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks, this study investigates the mechanisms by which skill development and vocational education programs contribute to women's empowerment in self-help groups, as well as the broader implications for gender equality and sustainable development.

Microfinance and Women's Economic Empowerment in Rural India

Self-help groups (SHGs) have played a crucial role in empowering women in India. They have provided a platform for women to come together, share experiences, and support each other in improving their social and economic conditions. This review traverses through the history of microfinance initiatives in India through SHGs, analyses the theoretical framework of SHGs, and integrates multiple perspectives to understand their formation, functioning, and impact on the role of microfinance initiatives on women's economic status and empowerment in rural India. The existing models of microcredit and microfinance are compared, along with the analysis of dynamic risk default and an overview of their mathematical models.

Civic and Community Engagement among Poor Rural Women in Bihar: A Pilot Study

Civic and community engagement is often crucial for the successful development of rural areas and a catalyst of personal transformation. This article examines changes in civic and community engagement among women in rural Bihar, India. Using an exploratory factor analysis of survey data from n = 815 respondents who participated in Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development [VBHCD] training, the study identifies three factors that constitute civic and community engagement. Next, the study assesses the efficacy of VBHCD’s impact on participants’ civic and community engagement relative to participants’ duration in the program and type of self-help group. The results indicate that pass-on groups are more civically active in their community than original groups. However, civic and community engagement wanes over the course of participation in Heifer’s intervention.

Does Family Matters? Exploring the Enablers of Sustainable Indian Women Micro Entrepreneurship

The present article attempts to encapsulate the enablers of a women-led microentrepreneurship sustainable model. To fulfill this purpose, a widely used Indian microcredit women entrepreneurship financial assistance model, namely Self-Help Group (SHG)-linked micro women entrepreneurs (MWEs), who accessed a second loan from the bank individually for their business expansion, were interviewed. Responses of such 30 MWEs were content analyzed using NVIVO 12. The codes, themes, and project maps were generated to identify the enablers resulting in a microentrepreneurial sustainable development framework. The results suggest that business know-how competencies (customer excellence, networking) and personal competencies (confidence, optimism, perseverance) were identified as prominent enablers, with family support as the most critical factor. Findings further suggested that MWEs’ sustainable success depends on capabilities of balancing the support provided from family to business and vice versa (family-to-business support), as well as leveraging the skills and experiences learned in the family for managing the business or vice versa (family-to-business enrichment). Positive spillover of the family-to-business interface was key to their business growth, unlike previous studies where the family was considered to be the biggest challenge for women entrepreneurship. A change in societal mindset and a shift toward gender parity was observed.

Role of self-help groups in achieving gender equality in Bihar

Role of self-help groups in achieving gender equality in Bihar

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH SELF-HELP GROUPS: A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF WOMEN IN BHARATPUR

The primary objective of this study is to gain deeper insights into the socioeconomic influence of women in Bharatpur, with a specific focus on those involved in Self Help Groups (SHGs). This research aims to comprehensively understand how the participation of women in SHGs has contributed to their empowerment and overall socioeconomic development. The study includes a detailed analysis and interpretation of various indicators, such as changes in income and savings levels before and after joining SHGs, as well as the growth in their confidence, leadership abilities, and knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, the literature review explores the broader socioeconomic impact on the lives of women, highlighting how involvement in SHGs has transformed their social and economic standing. Self Help Groups, as grassroots-level organizations, play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly women. By offering opportunities for collective action, skill development, and financial independence, SHGs have become instrumental in advancing the welfare of women in Bharatpur, fostering greater autonomy, economic stability, and community leadership. This research not only investigates the financial outcomes associated with SHG membership but also delves into the qualitative aspects of empowerment, such as personal growth, decision-making capacities, and the ability to influence community-level initiatives. By examining these elements, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the socioeconomic transformations that SHGs facilitate in the lives of women in Bharatpur.

THE ROLE OF REGIONAL RURAL BANKS (RRBs) IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PRATHMA BANK, UTTAR PRADESH

Rural development is a cornerstone of India's socio-economic progress, as a significant portion of the population resides in rural areas where agriculture and small enterprises drive the economy. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), established to bridge the credit gap in these regions, play a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion, enhancing agricultural productivity, and fostering sustainable rural development. This paper examines the multifaceted contributions of RRBs, with a specific focus on Prathma Bank in Uttar Pradesh, which has emerged as a vital institution in the rural banking landscape. The research highlights how Prathma Bank has effectively catered to the financial needs of marginalized farmers, women entrepreneurs, and small business owners through innovative lending products and microfinance initiatives. By promoting self-help groups (SHGs) and providing access to essential financial services, Prathma Bank has empowered rural communities, improved livelihoods, and stimulated local economies. Furthermore, this study analyzes the challenges faced by Prathma Bank, including high levels of non-performing assets (NPAs), limited technological infrastructure, and the need for enhanced financial literacy among rural populations. It underscores the importance of leveraging technology and expanding outreach to ensure sustainable development in rural areas. The findings suggest that while Prathma Bank has made significant strides in promoting rural development, strategic interventions and policy reforms are necessary to address operational challenges and maximize its impact. Recommendations include strengthening risk management frameworks, expanding product offerings, enhancing governance, and fostering public-private partnerships. This paper concludes that RRBs like Prathma Bank are not only pivotal in facilitating access to credit but also play an essential role in the holistic development of rural economies, making them indispensable to India's growth narrative

The Adoption of a “Diseased Identity” in Traditional 12-Step Groups: Exploring the Implications of These Processes for Individuals and Practitioners in Health and Social Care Services

Self-help groups are increasingly utilised by communities of interest and shared experience, services, and government departments as platforms for supporting and improving health and social care outcomes for drug and alcohol users. Traditional 12-step self-help groups like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous (NA and AA) are worldwide organisations and each have their own programme of change, language, criteria for membership, processes for problem resolution, and self-transformation. Within these types of groups, members are openly encouraged to identify with and adopt an (diseased) identity that is consistently invoked to work on the self. In the self-help recovery literature, it is widely recognised that individuals can benefit by thinking about themselves as “diseased” and then acting and behaving in a manner which is congruent with their reframed “identity”. Less is known about the processes involved in this and social-, psychological-, and health-related implications for individuals in drug- and alcohol-specific self-help groups. A thematic analysis of data from (n-36) in-depth qualitative interviews with long-term (6 months–10 years) self-help users identified four themes associated with the adoption of a diseased identity and self-help group processes: (1) normalising the disease and illness; (2) identifying as diseased; (3) living as a diseased individual; and (4) one addict helping another addict. The results of this research should not be interpretated as a critique of the 12-step approach or groups. Instead, it should be recognised that whilst improvements to individual wellbeing are reported, identifying as diseased can exacerbate negative self-perceptions that individuals hold about themselves, their character, capabilities, and ability. Being diseased, accepting disease, and identifying as diseased also has the potential to inhibit their engagement with wider social networks and professional services outside of their own fellowship or group. We conclude this paper by exploring the implications of a “diseased identity” and self-help processes for individuals who access self-help groups, and health and social care practitioners who support self-help users as they engage with services and self-help groups.

Socio-cultural Factors Influencing Women Empowerment: A Cross-sectional Study Among an Ex-criminal Tribe in West Bengal, India

This article critically examines whether socio-cultural factors like education, family type and earning opportunity influence women’s decision-making capacity, and thereby, their empowerment or not. It is established through earlier research that women are the most disempowered section in our society, and tribal women, especially the women from ex-criminal tribes, are relatively more deprived than others, and their decision-making ability is a significant criterion that reflects their empowerment status. The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 110 women of the Lodha, an ex-criminal tribe in India. The data of the earner women were compared with those of a control group who were not involved in any earning pursuit. The findings show that women’s participation in self-help groups (SHGs) and/or their involvement as wage laborers effectively enhance their decision-making ability within family, and education, family type and earning opportunity are significantly associated with the level of participation in decision-making.

Do self-help groups improve sexual and reproductive health and HIV outcomes among female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa? A scoping review protocol

Introduction Self-help groups (SHGs) have been effective in improving the health and wellbeing of women yet there is a dearth of evidence on how they can improve female sex workers’ (FSWs) HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The proposed scoping review seeks to address this gap by identifying and analysing literature on SHGs for FSWs in SSA. Materials and methods This scoping review will employ the methodology developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005), expanded on by Levac and colleagues (2010) and Colquhoun and colleagues (2014), and further outlined by Peters and colleagues (2020): (1) identifying the research question(s); (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) selecting the studies; (4) charting the data; and (5) collating, summarising, and reporting the results. Results We will report our findings in accordance with the guidance provided in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. Discussion The review will generate the most up-to-date evidence and identify gaps in literature in addition to informing future research on how SHGs can help address SRH and HIV outcomes among FSWs in SSA. Additionally, the scoping review can potentially inform a subsequent systematic review.