10.2190/SH.5.3.e 34242526N868X377 5 Self-Help/Mutual Aid in Germany—A 30 Year Perspective of a Participant Observer 279 294 20100624 20100624 20100624 20100624 34242526N868X377.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=34242526N868X377 3 Jürgen Matzat Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Giessen, Germany The aim of this article is to demonstrate the effects of national traditions, the health system, cultural transitions, and broader political movements on the development of self-help. Germany, where the author has been both observer and activist for over 30 years, is used as an example of self-help in one country. The students' rebellion in the late 1960s provided the historic and cultural ground for the emergence of collectives without professional leadership. The relationship between patients and doctors changed fundamentally; "experts through experience" showed up along side traditional "experts through formal education." From a grassroots movement of spontaneous self-helpers, organizations and institutions were developed. Academic research played a significant supporting role as "neutral witness." Attitudes and behavior of professionals, especially in the medical field, changed slowly, and, today, financial support for self-help is an obligation of Germany's statutory health insurance. Some see this as an "impact factor" of the highest relevance for our society. Borkman, T. (1999). <i>Understanding self-help and mutual aid. Experiential learning in the commons.</i> New Brunswick, NJ/London: Rutgers University Press. Braun, J., Kettler, U., Käsmann, E., & Becker I. (1997). <i>Selbsthilfe und Selbsthilfeunterstützung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland</i> (Self-help and support for self-help in the Federal Republic of Germany). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. Caplan, F., & Killilea, M. (Eds.). (1976). <i>Support systems and mutual help.</i> New York: Grune and Stratton. Daum, K.-W., Matzat, J., & Moeller, M. L. (1984). <i>Psychologisch-therapeutische Selbsthilfegruppen</i> (Psychologico-therapeutic self-help-groups). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. Deutsches Ärzteblatt (Journal of Germany's doctors’ association), May 2003, cover. Gartner, A., & Riessman, F. (1977). <i>Self-help in the human services.</i> New York: Jossey-Bass. Hatch, S., & Kickbusch, I. (Eds.). (1983). <i>Self-help and health in Europe.</i> Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Hüllinghorst, R. (2006). Versorgung Abhängigkeitskranker in Deutschland (Care for addicted persons in Germany). <i>Jahrbuch Sucht 2006</i> (Yearbook addiction), Geesthacht: Neuland. Katz, A., & Bender, E. (Eds.). (1976). <i>The strength in us.</i> New York: New Viewpoints. Matzat, J. (1987). Self-help groups in West Germany. Developments of the last decade. <i>Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 76</i>(337), 42-51. Matzat, J. (1989). Some remarks on West Germany's health and welfare system and the position of self-help. In S. Humble & J. Unell (Eds.), <i>Self-Help in Health and Social Welfare—England and West-Germany.</i> London: Routledge. Matzat, J. (1989-1990). Self-help groups as basic care in psychotherapy and social work. <i>Groupwork, 2</i>(3), 248-256. Matzat, J. (1993). Away with the experts? Self-help groupwork in Germany. <i>Groupwork, 6</i>(1), 30-42. Matzat, J. (2001-2002). The development of self-help groups and support for them in Germany. <i>International Journal of Self Help & Self Care, 1</i>(4), 307-322. Matzat, J. (2004). <i>Wegweiser Selbsthilfegruppen</i> (Signpost/introduction to self-help groups). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag. Matzat, J. (2007). Michael Lukas Moeller der "Selbsthilfe-Papst". Eine persönliche Geschichte (Michael Lukas Moeller the "self-help pope". A personal story.). In C. Krause-Girth (Ed.), <i>Die Gruppe, das Paar und die Liebe. Zum Wirken von Michael Lukas Moeller</i> (Group, couple, and love. About the work of Michael Lukas Moeller). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag. Meyer, F., Matzat, J., Hoflich, A., Scholz, S., & Beutel, M. E. (2004). Self-help groups for psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders in Germany—Themes, frequency and support by self-help advice centres. <i>Journal of Public Health, 12</i>, 359-364. Moeller, M. L. (1978). <i>Selbsthilfegruppen. Anleitungen und Hintergründe</i> (Self-help groups. Guidelines and backgrounds, new edition, 1996). Reinbek: Rowohlt. Moeller, M. L. (2007). <i>Anders helfen—Selbsthilfegruppen und Fachleute arbeiten zusammen</i> (Helping in a different way. Self-help groups and experts working together). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag. Parsons, T. (1951). <i>The social system.</i> New York: The Free Press. Schäfer, A., Meyer, F., Matzat, J., Knickenberg, R. J., Bleichner, F., Merkle, W., et al. (2005-2006). Utilization of and experience with self-help groups among patients with mental disorders. <i>International Journal of Self Help & Self Care, 4</i>(1-2), 5-19. Stremlow, J. (2006). <i>Die Bedeutung der Kontaktstellen für die Förderung der Selbsthilfegruppen in der Schweiz</i> (On the significance of clearing houses for the support of self-help groups in Switzerland). Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfegruppen (Ed.), <i>Selbsthilfegruppenjahrbuch 2006.</i> Gießen: Eigenverlag. Trojan, A. (Ed.). (1986). <i>Wissen ist Macht. Eigenständig durch Selbsthilfe in Gruppen.</i> (Knowledge is power. Independent through self-help in groups). Frankfurt: Fischer.