Empowering Communities through Mutual Support and Experiential Wisdom
Founded in 1976, the National Self-Help Clearinghouse facilitates access to self-help groups, conducts research, provides training, and increases awareness of the importance of mutual support.
"Helping is at the center of all this activity: knowing how to receive help, give help, and help yourself."
How the Clearinghouse facilitates access to mutual support and advances self-help principles.
Connecting individuals, families, and organizations with local mutual support groups and regional clearinghouse networks.
Conducting development activities for self-help group leaders and training professional support group facilitators.
Assisting public and private human service agencies to integrate self-help and mutual support into their standard service delivery.
Investigating the effectiveness of mutual aid, the character of the self-help process, and cooperation with formal care systems.
Providing guidance to public administrators to promote internal capabilities for sustaining peer-led support initiatives.
Distributing manuals, monographs, policy papers, and training materials. Conducting community and media outreach.
Self-help is not simply about individuals solving problems in isolation. It represents a democratic, strengths-based approach to well-being that transforms consumers into active contributors.
By connecting with others who share a specific life challenge, members overcome isolation and share experiential coping techniques.
Our research demonstrates that we are helped most when we help others. Acting as a sponsor or mentor builds self-esteem and agency.
We believe the non-professional who has lived through an illness or life challenge holds unique, invaluable wisdom that complements formal clinical systems.
We serve as a vital intermediary, helping formal health and human service providers build bridges of trust with independent, peer-led groups.
Explore our recent findings, policy recommendations, and theoretical frameworks.
An examination of simple vs. complex addiction. Explores why personal willpower and alternative methods succeed for some, while long-term mutual-aid and personality restructuring are required for others.
Bridging the cultural gap between formal health delivery systems (managed care, HMOs) and the self-determined, autonomous world of patient support groups.
Reversing the traditional hierarchy in schools. Why giving all students—especially low-achieving students—the opportunity to teach others results in marked cognitive improvements.