In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in advocacy.

History

Formal support groups may appear to be a modern phenomenon, but they supplement traditional fraternal organizations such as Freemasonry in some respects, and may build on certain supportive functions (formerly) carried out in (extended) families.

Other types of groups formed to support causes, including causes outside of themselves, are more often called interest groups, advocacy groups, lobby groups, pressure groups or promotional groups. Trade unions and many environmental groups, for example, are interest groups. The term support group in this article refers to peer-to-peer support.

Maintaining contact

Support groups maintain interpersonal contact among their members in a variety of ways. Traditionally, groups have met in person in 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 (see below).

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

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Tue Dec 8 00:22:25 2009

Are there any support groups for older adults with aspergers?
Q. I have seen on the internet that there is a support group for young adults with aspergers, but I don't know of any support groups for older adults.
Asked by pennypincher - Thu Apr 30 15:00:34 2009 - - 1 Answers - 1 Comments

A. There are good discussion forums on www.wrongplanet.net. They are for everyone who has Asperger's syndrome or other forms of autism. There are participants of all ages there, including people who are older adults. I suggest you check out those forums and see if it's something for you.
Answered by undir - Fri May 1 07:22:32 2009

Does anyone know of any online support groups for nontraditional students?
Q. I'm 27 years old and I've just recently returned to school full-time. It's great, I love my classes, and I'm really excelling. That doesn't change the fact that I feel a little out of place sometimes. Does anyone know of any online forums or support groups for non-traditional students?
Asked by Be Here Now. - Tue Oct 30 13:48:59 2007 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Your school doesn't have something in place? I go to a small community college and we have a good group that gets together and has a great advisor that helps by doing whatever he can do to help anyone. I came from a university and they had something simliar. Maybe if there isn;t one you could be an acting force for making one for the school you attend. What a great way to meet other people that are in the same boat! I to am a non traditional student so I will give you some advice that i have learned myself through trial and error. Get involved in any club or organization! non traditional students are a good percentage of any campus and should have an opprotunity to voice their opinions and give to students that have just graduated high… [cont.]
Answered by gem753 - Tue Oct 30 14:29:28 2007

Are there any support groups for people who are victims of matricide?
Q. Are there any support groups for people who are victims of matricide? Who dose the family turn to when matricide trakes place. There are all kinds of support groups for pratically anything, except matricide. Why are we expected to go through this alone?
Asked by karmicharmony - Mon Aug 14 23:34:49 2006 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. plenty of stuff for grief man.
Answered by gsschulte - Mon Aug 14 23:37:49 2006

From Yahoo Answer Search: "Support groups"
Wed Jan 6 16:30:18 2010

Center for Grief & Healing winter support groups and programs - Georgetown Record
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The Center for Grief & Healing, a program of Hospice of the North Shore, is offering a variety of workshops and support groups beginning in 2010. ...
Spokane support groups - The Spokesman Review
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Spokane support groups

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Breast Cancer Wellness Group Support group sponsored by Kootenai Health will meet Mondays (beginning Jan. 11), noon-1 pm at Kootenai Cancer Center, ...



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Faith Calendar: 01/02/2010 - Traverse City Record Eagle
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26; weekly video seminar series and support group for people who are separated or divorced, participants may join anytime; topics -- "What Does the Owner's ...



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From Google News Search: "Support groups"
Wed Jan 6 16:30:22 2010

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alopecia.ie
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Alopecia support groups like an Alopecia Support Group in your area If you do not live in three areas we cover please get in contact and we will try to facilitate this for you it would be great to have more

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support groups The Life Group LA is currently offering the following Emotional Support Groups

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From Yahoo Image Search: "Support groups"
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BPD Friends Are There Any Support Groups Online For People With ...
bpdfriends.com
BPD Friends Are There Any Support Groups Online For People With ...

Heather

ue, 22 Dec 2009 05:05:44 GM

Im trying to find 2 things: A . support group. that's online for someone who is diagnosed as being bipolar and a . support group. online for a fiance/girlfrie​nd/boyfriend to someone with bipolar. Any suggestions? Thank you! ...

Cloud Feed Blog Archive Daily Cloud Feed - Jan 8, 2010
cloudfeed.net
Cloud Feed Blog Archive Daily Cloud Feed - Jan 8, 2010

daily

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:39:36 GM

To implement it in ARSystem, you'd set up the two . support groups. as if they were two differentcompan​ies. (more). SaaS and Cloud Computing Driving Data Center Use | Cloud Computing UK businesses are primarily concerned with SaaS and ...

Pro-life groups attempt to support Stupak coalition
americanprinciplesproject.org
Pro-life groups attempt to support Stupak coalition

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hu, 07 Jan 2010 20:27:54 GM

Pro-life organizations are mobilizing in an attempt to help . support. the Democrat members of Congress who voted in favor of the pro-life Stupak amendment (which would permanently include language preventing tax dollars from funding ...

From Google Blog Search: "Support groups"
Sat Jan 9 16:48:20 2010