Mutual help groups: an important gateway to wellbeing and mental health

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of GROW, an Australia-wide community mental health organisation, on psychological wellbeing and mental health. DESIGN: Triangulation of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed. The study included a cross-sectional and a longitudinal survey of GROW members together with ethnographic and phenomenological work. RESEARCH OUTCOMES: The results pointed to length of membership/extent of involvement in GROW activities as being associated with improved wellbeing in the areas of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, and self-acceptance/purpose in life, together with a reduction in medication and hospitalisation. In a longitudinal study surveying the wellbeing of 28 new GROW members with 6-month follow-up, there were statistically significant improvements on all wellbeing factors. A major theme emerging from ethnographic and phenomenological research was that GROW offers a "real life" mini-community where people learn social and life management skills. However, beyond skills acquisition, GROW offers the potential for identity transformation by assisting the realisation of core human needs - a sense of feeling useful, valuable and belonging.