Use of Self-Help Services and Consumer Satisfaction With Professional Mental Health Services

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that users of mental health self-help services would be more satisfied with professional mental health services than clients who did not use self-help services. A survey was administered to 311 clients of professional mental health services, 151 (49 percent) of whom were users of self-help services. A multiple regression model showed that the use of self-help services was associated with greater satisfaction with professional mental health services. This finding provides support for the idea that the use of self-help services encourages appropriate use of professional services. The study provided evidence that self-help and traditional mental health services can function complementarily rather than in competition with one another.

Dual-Focus Mutual Aid for Co-Occurring Disorders: A Quasi-Experimental Outcome Evaluation Study

“…Previous research has shown that mutual aid groups can complement, rather than compete with, professional mental health and addiction treatment (46,47). The current study reinforces this conclusion and, despite its limitations, helps demonstrate the benefits of introducing 12-step, dual-focus mutual aid into psychiatric treatment programs that serve patients with COD.…”

Directions for Future Patient-Centered and Comparative Effectiveness Research for People With Serious Mental Illness

“…The authors hypothesize that the consumer program's organizational structure may have been no less hierarchical than that of the traditional agency, posing challenges to the promotion of better patient-centered outcomes. In a related study, Hodges et al 122 explored the relationship between the use of self-help services and professional mental health services among people who used only professional services and those who used both. Participants who used both services reported more satisfaction with professional services than the group that used only professional services.…”

Rôle du communautaire en santé mentale dans un système en évolution : état des connaissances et recommandations

“…Très accessibles, les OCSM rejoignent des personnes n'utilisant pas les services du réseau public ou n'y ayant pas accès (Goering et al, 2006 ;Segal, Hardiman et Hodges, 2002a). L'utilisation des services du réseau public serait plus judicieuse et plus satisfaisante (Hodges, Markward, Keele et Evans, 2003 ;Segal, Hardiman et Hodges, 2002b), et les hospitalisations moins fréquentes chez les personnes priorisant les OCSM (Burti et al, 2005). Des symptômes psychiatriques et psychologiques diminués et une qualité de vie améliorée sont d'autres facteurs positifs associés à l'utilisation des services des OSCM (Davidson et al, 1999).…”