Others, such as Families of the Mentally Ill or Survivors of Suicide, address the needs of caregivers and families of the afflicted. Often formed by everyday citizens, these groups offer both patients and caregivers a way to overcome the sense of isolation and depression that often accompanies illness. Participants exchange information, compare experi-ences, and share coping techniques. They also vent their frustrations, and help others. As a result, they instill a sense of hope where once there may have been fear and anger.
Support groups make a measurable difference.
Studies cited by the Self-Help Network of Kansas show, among other things, that chronic arthritis patients who join groups control pain more effectively. Women with metastatic breast cancer report milder mood swings and reduced pain and survive twice as long, on average, as control-group patients. Support groups have also been shown to cut the rate of heart attacks among men, ease anxiety and depression arising from traumatic experiences, and reduce demand for medical services and medication among people suffering chronic mental illness. Some online groups also offer participants the option of remaining anonymous even while sharing sensitive information. And electronic meeting places may represent the only opportunity for people with rare disorders to surmount their isolation in their own communities and find similarly situated peers.