In a support group, members provide each other with various types of nonprofessional, nonmaterial help for a particular shared burdensome characteristic. The help may take the form of providing relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also provide ancillary support, such as serving as a public relations voice or engaging in advocacy.

Maintaining contact

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Support groups maintain interpersonal contact among their members in a variety of ways. Most groups have traditionally met in person in group sizes that allowed conversational interaction. Support groups also maintain contact through printed newsletters, telephone chains, internet forums, and mailing lists. Some support groups are exclusively Online_support_groups.

Membership in some support groups is formally controlled, with admission requirements and membership fees. Other groups are "open" and allow anyone to drop in at an advertised meeting, for example, or to participate in an online forum.

More on [ Support group ]

NPR Topics: Health & Science

A Partisan Divide On Health Care Reform
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:37:00 -0400
While both John McCain and Barack Obama agree that the American health care system needs reform, the candidates differ markedly in their vision of the remedy. Political scientist Jonathan Oberlander offers an in-depth comparison of the candidates' proposals.
Web Sites Compare How Hospitals Measure Up
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:13:00 -0400
A new Web site called "Hospital Compare" evaluates hospital death rates around the country and shows how individual hospitals stack up against the national average. Guests discuss the reliability of the data on the site and describe the measures hospitals are taking to improve performance.
Doctors Fear Effects Of Illegal Immigrant's Arrest
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:09:00 -0400
The recent arrest of a popular woman who happens to be an illegal immigrant has some North Carolina doctors concerned. The woman's immigration status apparently was turned over to authorities after she received medical care. Doctors worry that illegal immigrants will be afraid to seek care, which might lead to public health problems.
Moo North: Cows Sense Earth's Magnetism
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:44:00 -0400
A team of researchers sorting through satellite images of cows in 300 pastures makes a surprising discovery: Cows tend to face either magnetic north or south when grazing or resting.

washingtonpost.com - Health

Poverty Rate Held Steady Last Year, Census Says
Michael A. Fletcher Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The nation's poverty rate held steady as median household income edged upward last year, according to annual census data released yesterday. The Census Bureau also reported that the number of people without health insurance decreased by more than 1 million people in 2007.
Novavax Moves Closer to Licensing Bird Flu Vaccine
Kendra Marr Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Novavax said yesterday that its bird flu vaccine elicited a robust immune response in humans, moving the biotech a step closer to licensing its pandemic vaccine production system.
A Detox Diet? I'll Drink to That!
Lonnae O'Neal Parker Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The idea came to me over a plate of Buffalo wings at a family diner on U Street, although the roots of it stretched back further. Oprah had just finished a 21-day diet detox, my husband mentioned casually, and I felt the kind of quick stab of jealousy you get when someone else does something you ...

Reuters: Health News

Number of uninsured Americans declines modestly
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:38:07 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fewer Americans went without health insurance last year for the first time since President George W. Bush took office as more people received government coverage, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
Survey finds causes of cancer little understood
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:18:53 -0400
GENEVA (Reuters) - People in rich and poor countries alike have faulty understanding of what causes cancer and need better education on how to ward off the disease, according to an authoritative report issued on Wednesday.
Some Ayurvedic medicines have harmful metals: study
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:08:34 -0400
CHICAGO (Reuters) - One in five Ayurvedic medicines commonly used by followers of the ancient Indian health philosophy were found to contain the metallic poisons lead, mercury or arsenic, researchers said on Tuesday.

CNN.com - Health

Is your kid really gifted? Probably not
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:57:38 -0400
Did your child walk and talk early? Does she have a brain like a sponge? Scribble magnificently? Love learning? Ask questions that leave you marveling (and scrambling to Google an answer)? Wow, clearly she's a genius! Or, um, maybe not.
Eat your fluids to stay hydrated
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:25:13 -0400
If your water bottle travels with you everywhere, sip on this thought: Drinking water isn't the only way to stay hydrated. Food can significantly affect your daily fluid needs.
Census: Fewer Americans lack health insurance
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:59:38 -0400
Participation in government health insurance programs -- particularly those aimed at children -- increased from 2006 to 2007, leading to a decrease in the number of Americans lacking insurance, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday.

ABC News: Health

Skin Cancer May Signal Cancers to Come
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:15:05 -0400
New study says skin cancer may raise risk of cancers later in life.
Jawbreakers? Taking Stress Out on Teeth
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:59:13 -0400
Perpetual teeth grinders are in for a lifetime of pain, say dentists.
Scathing TV Ad Skewers Hot Dogs
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:25:10 -0400
A pro-vegetarian spot shows a child actor falsely claiming to have colon cancer.

BBC News | Health | UK Edition

Patients to get sight-saving drug
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:07:29 -0000
All patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness will get access to a sight-saving drug after all.
Drug 'may slow down Parkinson's'
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:05:50 -0000
Early use of medication may be able to slow down progression of Parkinson's disease, preliminary research suggests.
Robo-skeleton lets paralysed walk
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:02:25 -0000
A human exoskeleton robotic suit is helping people paralysed from the waist down to stand, walk and climb stairs.

Newsweek Health Headlines

Five Foot Problems You Shouldn't Ignore
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:43:31 -0000
Seemingly minor difficulties could cause you major problems in the long term. Here's what to look for.
Can Gastric Bypass Surgery Cure Diabetes?
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:43:21 -0000
A controversial doctor says yes; his critics say 'bull----.'
My Turn: Reinventing Myself After an HIV Diagnosis
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:16:31 -0000
Since being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1990, I've managed to reinvent myself at least three times.

USATODAY.com Health - Top Stories

Study finds toxins in some herbal medicines
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:28:42 -0000
Traditional herbal supplements used by thousands of Americans may contain dangerously high levels of lead and other toxins, a ...
Economy may stall push for health care
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:33:03 -0000
A drop in the number of people who lacked health insurance last year reflects a push by states to cover more lower-income adults ...
Cancer cluster confirmed near Pa. Superfund sites
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:02:27 -0000
Nearly a year after federal epidemiologists first sounded the alarm over a cluster of rare blood cancers in northeastern Pennsylvania, ...

UPHS - Health and Wellness Newsletter

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Ranked 10th in Nation
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States selected by U.S.News and World Report, as featured in its August 21st issue.
Spotlight on the Penn Multiple Sclerosis Center
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
New Technology Now Available for Sleep Apnea Patients
As many as 4 percent of men and 2 percent of women suffer from sleep apnea, making it one of the most common sleep disorders in the United States. If left untreated, sleep apnea can seriously affect your health.

Reader's Digest: Health

Choosing a Weight-Loss Program for your Child
Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Read more about this interesting rd.com article.
Your Weight Loss Strategy: Taking a Closer Look
Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400
Figure out whether you're a diet or an exercise person with our quiz. Your answers will help you decide whether to focus your efforts on cutting back on calories through diet or burning more calories through exercise and sports.
Foods to Lower Blood Sugar: Berries
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400
Berries are nutrition powerhouses and they may help keep your blood sugar in check.

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