10.2190/9RVD-KPEC-M8PF-DDQN 9RVDKPECM8PFDDQN 307 THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-HELP GROUPS AND SUPPORT FOR THEM IN GERMANY 307 322 20021002 20021002 20021002 20021002 9RVDKPECM8PFDDQN.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=9RVDKPECM8PFDDQN 4 JÜRGEN MATZAT Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen This article gives a broad overview over the development of self-help groups and support for them in Germany. Historic and political contexts of the German health and welfare systems are given. Reflecting the professional discussion in Germany, a basic typology of self-help groupings is suggested by definitions of anonymous groups, larger self-help organizations, and small self-help groups. The relationship between professional helpers and self-helpers, the remarkable change in attitudes over the last decades, are described in historic phases. 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