Summer 2000
American Self-Help Clearinghouse (http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp). Superior search engine for locating self-help mutual aid groups and clearinghouses for all conditions. Also information on ordering the Self-Help Sourcebook and literature on starting a group.
Dr Koop.Com (http://www.drkoop.com). Health and Mental Health related website of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Features large number of articles and health news organized by condition, from Acne to Thyroid Problems. Includes very large selection of mental health topics. Best feature is the Community, which includes a real-time schedule of chats by topic. Features include a Drug Checker for testing drug interactions. This is a commercial site with a publicly traded stock.
Dr. Grohol's PsychCentral (http://www.psychcentral.com). This website provides an invaluable listing of online self-help groups (http://www.psychcentral.com/resources) and forums as well as chats with professionals--includes add-a-site option. Dr. Grohol runs his own chat on general mental health questions and issues (check for schedule).
Mental Help.Net (http://www.mentalhelp.net). Read news on mental health problems, find therapists on line as well as real-world professionals and clinics. Includes chat rooms, online support groups and schedule (a recent hit turned up Eating Disorders, Depression, Abuse, Anxiety, Bipolar and Open Chat in a given week). Also forums for consumers and professionals. Resources and postings for researchers.
DocTom (http://www.healthy.net/selfcare). Dr. Tom (Ferguson)'s site with self-care suggestions from Abscess to Yeast infection. His Online Journal includes articles by him, but welcomes submissions. One important article is "A Guided Tour of Self-Help in Cyberspace" currently (http://www.healthy.net/Home/tomonline/tomstour.htm).
_______________________________________________________________________
Researchers looking to compile their bibliographies of effectiveness studies will find the following sites useful:
"A Review of Research on the Effectiveness of Self-Help Mutual Aid Groups" by Elaina M. Kyrouz, Ph.D. and Keith Humphreys, Ph.D. (http://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/selfres.htm).
"Are Self-Help Groups Effective" by Greg Meissen, Ph.D. on the Self Help Network of Kansas page (http://www.wsupsy.psy.twsu.edu/shnok) includes a few studies not on Kyrouz and Humphreys.
