From Church Basements to World Wide Web Sites: The Growth of Self-Help Support Groups Online

Integrating SMART Recovery and Mental Health Services to Meet the Needs and Goals of LGBTQ Individuals Experiencing Substance Use–Related Problems

“…Given the paucity of LGBTQ-specific SMART Recovery meetings, these generally need to be accessed online. Although some participants report a diminished sense of social connection from online mutual help meetings compared with in-person meetings (Barrett & Murphy, 2021), online meetings can also promote accessibility for individuals who have transportation barriers or disabilities (Haug et al, 2020; Madara, 1999). Thus, it is important to work with the client to determine their unique needs and whether in-person or online meetings better address those needs.…”

Characteristics and engagement among English-language online forums for addiction recovery available in the US

“…Public health resources related to this topic appear encouraging, but evidence is limited for the effectiveness of online forums (e.g., social media groups, recovery websites with community interfaces) in reducing addiction-related morbidity or contributing to favorable recovery outcomes. While online addiction support forums have been a topic of scientific research since at least the turn of the century ( Madara, 1999 ), there is insufficient prior research to delineate what quantity or quality of forum activity might encourage sustained engagement and contribute to favorable recovery outcomes ( Bergman and Kelly, 2021 ). Using such forums is associated with a variety of individual factors such as family composition or being early on in a recovery process ( Gilbert et al, 2022 ), and the social support exchanged in forums is associated with favorable outcomes such as reduced relapse rates ( Liu et al, 2020 ).…”

Is Online Peer Support Helpful in Widowhood? The Lived Experiences of Young Parents

“…Some of the reported positive aspects of using online peer support networks are the accessibility of the groups (Barak et al, 2008; Feigelman et al, 2008; Madara, 1999–2000; Tanis, 2018; van der Houwen et al, 2010), convenience (Elder & Burke, 2015; Tanis, 2018), anonymity (Elder & Burke, 2015), access to information (Aho et al, 2012; Robinson & Pond, 2019), contact with like-minded individuals (Robinson & Pond, 2019; Tanis, 2018; van der Houwen et al, 2010), emotional support (Aho et al, 2012; Robinson & Pond, 2019), remembrance of the deceased (Robinson & Pond, 2019), and the promotion of personal empowerment (e.g., Barak et al, 2008; Christopherson, 2007; Feigelman et al, 2008; Madara, 1999). However, seeking out support in grief on the internet has also been reported to have potential downsides, such as, possible increase in ruminative thinking and distress (Stroebe et al, 2008), risk of developing dependence (Barak et al, 2008), and exposure to inappropriate responses and unpleasant experiences online (Barak et al, 2008; van der Houwen et al, 2010).…”