Self-Help Groups

Self-help groupsSelf-help groups (SHGs) are becoming an increasingly a popular form of group workGroup work in India. Some SHGs are organized around shared social conditions, such as consciousness-raising for women, LGBTQIA+, and parents. Others are organized around shared problems, such as alcoholAlcohol or drug addiction, or are composed of recovering-mental health patients or ex-offenders. Still, others are formed by victims of such pathologies as spousal abuse or rape. In this chapter, the history of SHGs and the defining characteristics are described, especially in the context of the Global North and in South Asia. In addition, six approaches and models of SHGs that are relevant for social group work are discussed.