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“Nothing About Me, Without Me”: Participatory Action Research with Self-Help/Mutual Aid Organizations for Psychiatric Consumer/Survivors

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Participatory action research with self-help/mutual aid organizations for psychiatric consumer/survivors is reviewed. We begin by tracing the origins of and defining both participatory action research and self-help/mutual aid. In so doing, the degree of correspondence between the assumptions/values of participatory action research and those of self-help/mutual aid for psychiatric consumer/survivors is examined. We argue that participatory action research and self-help/mutual aid share four values in common: (a) empowerment, (b) supportive relationships, (c) social change, and (d) learning as an ongoing process. Next, selected examples of participatory action research with psychiatric consumer/survivor-controlled self-help/mutual aid organizations which illustrate these shared values are provided. We conclude with recommendations of how the key values can be promoted in both the methodological and substantive aspects of future participatory action research with self-help/mutual aid organizations for psychiatric consumer/survivors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5

    Geoffrey Nelson

  2. Centre for Research and Education in Human Services, Kitchener, Ontario

    Joanna Ochocka

  3. Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada

    Kara Griffin

  4. Ryerson Polytechnic University, Canada

    John Lord

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  1. Geoffrey Nelson
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  2. Joanna Ochocka
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  3. Kara Griffin
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  4. John Lord
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Correspondence to Geoffrey Nelson.

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Nelson, G., Ochocka, J., Griffin, K. et al. “Nothing About Me, Without Me”: Participatory Action Research with Self-Help/Mutual Aid Organizations for Psychiatric Consumer/Survivors. Am J Community Psychol 26, 881–912 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022298129812

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