[An overview of self-help structures in Germany]

Self-help groups, self-help organizations, and clearing-houses have now become recognized elements of the health care system. Organized self-help, which has a long tradition in Germany, gained significant momentum during the 1980s and 1990s. Several factors still contribute to the development of self-help groups: the increased number of chronic health conditions, the improved treatment programs, increasing life expectancies, changes in primary social networks (family, relations, and neighborhood), and increased public recognition of the value of self-help. There are approximately 280 self-help clearinghouses and a large number of topic-specif ic self-help organizations in Germany; these form the mainstay of effective self-help support for those who are affected or engaged and are interested in self-help. It is estimated that approximately 3 million individuals are engaged in 70,000 to 100,000 self-help groups, covering virtual ly every topic relating to medical, psychological, and social issues. Representative surveys have revealed that three quarters of the population would turn to a self-help group in case of illness, although experience shows that only a minority actually does. In addition, there is still a significant lack of information about self-help and its organizational structure.