Self-help Groups & Social Capital

8 March, 2002

NG Hang-sauChief Service Supervisor

Community Rehabilitation NetworkThe Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation

Tel: 2794 3010Fax: 2338 4820

E-mail: hsng@rehabsociety.org.hk

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

Introduction Changing

environment Self-help

development in Hong Kong

Self-help groups and social capital

Future development of self-help

CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Advance medical technology Change of disease pattern Increased awareness of patients’

rights Escalating health cost Strong professionalization Service fragmentation and de-

humanization of institution New services models

SELF-HELP DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG

What is self-help group/ organization

Historical development

Prevalence of self-help group

Characteristic of self-help groups in Hong Kong

WHAT IS SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS

groups of individuals in a group structure

to pursue common goals of furthering their own welfare and interests

group solidarity arises people encountering similar problems to overcome them by sharing experience and

exchanging information(White Paper on Rehabilitation)

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF-HELP, SUPPORT & PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUPS

Self-help groupsupportive, educational, usually

change-oriented that addresses a single life problem, professionals rarely have an active role

Support groupgiving emotional support and

information to persons with a common problem, often facilitated by professionals

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF-HELP, SUPPORT & PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUPS

Psychotherapy groupseek to produce individual growth & ch

ange through the relationship established among members with the help of a professional therapist

DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS IN HONG KONG (I)

Deep rooted in the civilization of mankind

Early form of self-help and mutual help are based on consanguinity and clan

Address life problem or conditions shared by all members

Based on the concept of equality, fraternity and mutual help

DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS IN HONG KONG (II)

1964 Hong Kong Blind Union, the first self-help organizations

1970 Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth

1976 Hong Kong Stoma Association 1977 Parents’ Association of the

Mentally Handicapped Ltd. 1989 Hong Kong Association of

Relatives for Mental health

DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS IN HONG KONG (III)

1987 Hong Kong Joint Council of Parents of the Mentally Handicapped

1995 Chosen Power, formed by people with mental handicap

1993 Alliance for Patients’ Mutual Help Organizations

PREVALENCE OF SELF-HELP & SUPPORT GROUPS IN HK

Around 212 self-help and support groups, with or without formal registration formed (Mok, 2001)

Around 30,000 to 35,000 members Usually 1 meeting per month for m

embers but may be 2-3 for Executive Committee members

Limited study on the effectiveness of self-help groups in HK

CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS IN HK

Over 80% of the self-help organizations are formed with the support of the & assisted by health care professionals

Only a few self-help organizations are supported with regular funding

Membership fee is required Provision of services rather than

advocacy Not much inter-groups collaboration

ROLE & FUNCTIONS OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS

Emotional support Information and advice Pressure group

activities and lobbying Bulk purchase Fund raising Public education Support research

INDIVIDUAL & SOCIAL BENEFITS OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS

Addressing behavior-control problem Improved coping with chronic illness a

nd life transitions Friendship and belonging Spiritual renewal Increasing political activism Enhanced civil society Reduced health care resource use

(by: Kieth Humphreys)

RELATION TO SOCIAL CAPITAL

Involves families/ carers Forms support network Develops mutual trust/ cooperation/

long-term relationships Facilitates human functioning Aids the formation of human capital

ROLE OF PROFESSIONALS IN SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS

Founder Consultant Resource provider Referrer Legitimizer (by: Bonnie Pape)

Am I right?

Go ahead!

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-HELP MOVEMENT

Develop membership vs mutuality Organizational building vs locality MAS

H Professional collaboration vs anti-prof

essional Government’s funding vs advocacy On-line self-help vs traditional Training of self-helpers & professionals Self-help research

CONCLUSION

Strengths & weaknesses Not prefect: areas for

improvement Not an answer for all Self-help to be all things to all

people?

THANK YOU