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Self-help groups
Country Selection
As the topic varies greatly across Europe, you will find the information divided by country. You will find the information for your own country translated into your national language. By clicking on the country flag and selecting other country flags, you can also access the information for other European countries in English.
Why online and in-person self-help groups are important for people with disabilities and informal caregivers?
- Emotional Support. These groups provide a safe space for you to share your feelings and experiences, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Practical Advice. You can exchange tips and resources with others who understand your situation. This can help you tackle the common challenges you face in caregiving.
- Flexibility and Accessibility. Online groups allow you to participate whenever it’s convenient, while face-to-face groups can help you build local connections and support networks.
- • Mental Health Benefits. Sharing your burdens and concerns with others can alleviate stress and promote better mental health. Furthermore, you’ll be reminded of the importance of self-care.
- Diverse Perspectives. You’ll hear from others with a range of experiences, thus enriching your understanding and providing targeted support for specific conditions that might affect your care recipient.
The available services for self-help groups will be indicated below.
What online self-help groups are there for people with disabilities in Italy?
Self-help groups (AMA) in the Emilia Romagna Region.
Gruppi Auto Mutuo Aiuto - AMA 2024 Groups Emilia Romagna Region
Associazione CAReGIVER [Caregivers’ Association]
A national association dedicated to supporting informal caregivers. It offers self-help groups, counseling, workshops, and information on rights and available resources for caregivers.
Click on this link for information on the Association and its services.
Services offered by AMALO
Amalo is a voluntary association that promotes and supports Self-Mutual Aid. It offers a free and easily accessible tool where peers, people sharing similar experiences, can help each other in a welcoming and supportive environment. Members can find resources and solutions to cope with their issues together with a view to improving their well-being.
Click on this link for information and activities promoted by AMALO in the area of self-help.
How can I find my (online) group?
Below you will find some information on how you can you can find your (online) mutual self-help group.
Visit online platforms and resources dedicated to disability self-help groups and caregiver communities in Italy.
The following link contains some links to self-help sites in Italy: LinkActively engage with the group by participating in discussions, asking questions, sharing your experiences, and offering support to others. Building connections and relationships within the group can enhance the mutual support and a sense of community.
Good practices
Voluntary association that promotes and supports Self Mutual Aid
AMALO is an organization dedicated to promoting Auto Mutuo Aiuto (AMA), or Self-Mutual Aid, by collaborating with other institutions to develop support networks and services within communities. It focuses on creating inclusive spaces where people facing similar challenges can share experiences, provide mutual support, and empower each other.
Connected topics
How can you find a self-help group?
Are you looking for a suitable self-help group for yourself or your relatives? There are various groups on a wide range of topics throughout Germany: self-help groups for carers as well as groups for those affected by specific illnesses or disabilities.
In Germany alone, there are around 100,000 self-help groups that are supported by an official body – a Selbsthilfekontaktstelle (Self-help contact point). Self-help contact points are independent institutions that support and advise self-help groups and interested people. They can currently be found in around 330 locations in Germany. The self-help contact points in your area are a great place to start. But how do you find one, or one of the many local and online self-help groups?
Below you will find information and links on how to find a self-help contact point and self-help groups. If you would like to set up a self-help group yourself, you will also find suitable links.
What platforms are there for finding a self-help group?
The overview contains links to organisations that maintain databases of existing self-help groups and self-help contact points. You will also find links to organisations that deal explicitly with self-help for carers and further information on how you can set up a self-help group yourself.
Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen (NAKOS) (National contact and information centre to encourage and support self-help groups)
- Rote Adressen (red addresses) to use to find all self-help contact points in Germany.
- Grüne Adressen (Green addresses) to find nationwide self-help associations, self-help internet forums and self-help organisations.
- Blaue Adressen (blue addresses) for rare diseases and problems for which those affected have contacted NAKOS but no community self-help services have yet been found in Germany.
- NAKOS also has a guide on how to set up a self-help group.
wir pflegen! e. V. (Interessenvertretung und Selbsthilfe pflegender Angehöriger e.V.) - (we care! e. V. Representation of interests and self-help for family carers e.V.)
The “Voice of Caring Relatives in Germany” is a nationwide representation of the interests of caring relatives and self-help organisations. You can find details here. Among other things, it offers an app called in.kontakt, which allows family carers to network with each other online.
The association’s general website can be found here. Step by step, advocacy and self-help groups for carers are being set up in the federal states and local authorities too. Events and information on digital networking for family carers can be found here.
Die Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfegruppen e.V. (DAG-SHG) - (The German working group for self-help groups e.V.)
How do I find a suitable self-help group?
If you are looking for a self-help group, there is plenty of information online. You can use search engines with keywords such as self-help, a specific topic (such as care or a particular illness) and a specific location (for example the city you live in). On the NAKOS website, you will also find “green addresses” for self-help associations, self-help internet forums and self-help organisations that are active throughout Germany.
Click here for more information..
You can also ask for help from your social environment. If you suffer from a mental illness, you can ask a psychologist, social services or hospital staff if they can recommend a group. For groups on specific illnesses and disabilities, you can ask therapists, doctors, care services and social organisations that offer support.
Patients’ associations are also a helpful source of advice because they focus on a number of issues related to illnesses, and provide information and networks to the public. You can find more information on how to find them in our list of materials below. There are also special self-help contact points that can provide you with information about self-help groups in your region.
There are over 330 self-help contact points in Germany that support and advise self-help groups and interested people locally. They can provide information about existing self-help groups in your area. You can find an overview of the self-help contact points on the NAKOS website under “red addresses” (“rote Adressen”).
Good practices
Finding and founding a self-help group with NAKOS
Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen (National contact and information centre to encourage and support self-help groups) or NAKOS has been the nationwide information and mediation centre for self-help in Germany since 1984. It works on fundamental issues of self-help work, self-help support and promotion. Among other things, it offers a database for finding self-help groups and information about local self-help contact centres. It also provides information on how to set up a self-help group and what needs to be considered in order to find a reputable online self-help group.
in.kontakt: an app for connecting family carers
The “Voice of Caregiving Relatives in Germany” is a nationwide lobby group for caregiving relatives and self-help organisations. Among other things, it offers an app called in.kontakt, which enables family carers to network with each other online. App name: in.kontakt.
Links: Google Play | App Store
Independent patient counselling
Unabhängige Patientenberatung Deutschland/ UPD (Independent patient counselling) is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to provide those seeking advice with comprehensive information and individual advice on health and health law issues free of charge. It can also provide information on appropriate patients’ organisation for you.
Overview of German self-help organisations
The patient participation unit of the Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss (Joint Federal Committee) appoints four associations that represent the interests of patients and self-help organisations for chronically ill and people with disabilities at federal level in Germany.
Resources
NAKOS (Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen) [National contact and information centre to encourage and support self-help groups]
Founded in 1984, NAKOS is the nationwide information and mediation body in the field of self-help in Germany. It works on fundamental issues of self-help work, self-help support and promotion. It also offers a database to find self-help groups and information on local services dealing with self-help groups.
Wir pflegen! e.V. (We care! e.V.)
Wir pflegen! e.V. is a nationwide interest group for family carers and self-help organisations. You can find details of this association here. Among other things, it has an app called in.kontakt, which carers can use to network online.
Connected topics
How and where can I find a self-help group? [Grupos de Auto-Ajuda (GAA) ou Grupos de Ajuda Mútua (GAM)]
You may face some challenges, such as balancing caregiving responsibilities with personal life, managing stress and emotional strain, and navigating complex healthcare systems. Self-help groups for informal caregivers are important because they provide a supportive environment where you can share experiences, receive emotional support, and learn coping strategies from others facing similar challenges. This mutual support helps you reduce isolation, obtain practical advice, and improve your overall wellbeing.
As such, YoungCare shares information about self-help groups available throughout Portugal and provides guidance on how you can find and join these supportive networks.
You can find contact information for municipalities where you can inquire about self-help groups in your region. Additionally, there is an app available for online self-help groups.
How and where can I find a self-help group? [Grupos de Auto-Ajuda (GAA) ou Grupos de Ajuda Mútua (GAM)]
You can find self-help groups promoted by projects and supported by local municipalities through the Network of Municipalities Caring for Informal Caregivers. Additionally, in the Azores, these groups are also supported by the regional government. Online self-help groups are also accessible through a dedicated app.
Grupos de ajuda mútua – Portugal Continental - Mutual Support Groups
Informal caregivers can access self-help or mutual support groups through the Network of Municipalities Caring for Informal Caregivers by contacting their local municipality. Currently, the following municipalities have identified self-help groups: Coruche, Santa Maria da Feira, Amarante, Celorico da Beira, Fornos de Algodres, Gondomar, Oeiras, Ovar, Póvoa de Lanhoso, São Salvador and Santa Maria (Odemira), Trancoso.
To learn more about this service and others provided by RACCI, please visit this website.
Apoio ao Cuidador Informal – Governo dos Açores [Support for Informal Carers - Government of the Azores]
On the Informal Caregiver Support Platform, you can find contact details and office hours for the local office in the Azores. This gives you access to self-help groups and other types of support. Additionally, you can learn about a relief fund that offers caregiver substitutes.
To learn more about this service and others provided by “Apoio aos Cuidadores Informais”, please visit: Link 1 | Link 2
Careceiver app
In the Careceiver app, informal caregivers can share experiences, exchange valuable advice, and provide support online. The same can also be accomplished through the project’s social media networks.
To learn more about the Careceiver project, its app and online community, please visit this website. You can also access their Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok.
Good practices
This project offers personalised support for the caregiver through home visits by a multidisciplinary technical team consisting of a Social Worker, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, and Physical Trainer. The team works with caregivers on tailored care strategies that takes into accounts the people they are caring for. The initiative also provides opportunities to join groups, where caregivers can exchange experiences and knowledge about caregiving and develop new relationships based on support and mutual help. This strengthens connections between caregivers and local communities, and enables them to make active use of existing resources in their area.
Projeto Cuidar de quem cuida [Caring for Carers Project]
In Santa Maria da Feira, the “Cuidar de quem cuida” project is part of the Network of Municipalities Caring for Informal Caregivers (RACCI). It focuses on informal caregivers of people with dementia and post-stroke conditions, aiming to empower local professionals for networked interventions, thereby enhancing the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients. As part of its initiatives, the project has established self-help groups to support caregivers in their roles.
The CARE4DEM project is an Erasmus+ initiative. Aproximar and Caso50+ are the Portuguese partner associations. The project aims to develop a new and innovative model of mutual support groups by introducing web-based tools and integrating them with other interventions to enhance caregiver satisfaction and reduce burnout. Additionally, the project seeks to expand the professional development of mutual support group facilitators by creating a network of mutual learning across Europe.
Resources
Manual de Grupos Auto-Ajuda e Ajuda Mútua [Manual for Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups]
This manual aims to guide step-by-step assertive integration of people diagnosed with unipolar or bipolar disorder, and their families, with the aim of achieving better mental health. Self-help and mutual aid groups are one of the therapeutic forms of psychosocial rehabilitation, allowing access to a space for sharing experiences and knowledge, combating stigma, loneliness and isolation, with a view to improve both health and quality of life and active citizenship.
Connected topics
What is a self-help group and why you should consider joining one?
Self-help groups are voluntary gatherings of individuals who share a common problem or concern, such as caregiving for people with disabilities or severe illnesses. People who take care of relatives with severe illnesses or/and disabilities may face various challenges that could be difficult for one person to handle and cope with.
When you feel that you are lost or need support, look for people who are going through the same experience. Self-help groups provide mutual support, practical advice, and emotional comfort. Members share experiences, strategies, and resources, fostering a sense of community and understanding. Through these interactions, participants can learn coping mechanisms, stress management techniques, and practical caregiving skills, enhancing their well-being and effectiveness in their caregiving roles. These groups often operate under a peer-led model, emphasising shared leadership and collective problem-solving.
There are several ways to find and join a self-help group. You can contact an association for people with a particular disease or disability and ask about opportunities to join events, meetings, and lectures. You can also ask if there is a self-help group for caregivers to join. Maybe there are other informal caregivers with whom you could talk. Another way is to contact the social worker or psychologist of your outpatient clinic and ask them if there is an opportunity to join self-help group for informal caregivers. If such a group does not exist, ask a social worker and/or psychologist about possibilities to launch one.
This section contains links to information about organisations that offer self-help groups for people with care needs and disabilities and their informal caregivers.
Which organisations offer self-help groups for people with care needs and their informal caregivers?
Self-help groups are provided by numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Lithuania. They bring together individuals with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses and their families. In this section, you will find information about available support resources.
VšĮ “Kartu lengviau” (“It’s easier together”)
This association brings together patients with central nervous system tumours and their relatives as well as doctors and medical students. This association has several objectives, including educating the wider public, raising awareness of the disease and organising support groups.
If you would like to know more about the association, and opportunities to join support groups, visit this link.
Išsėtinės sklerozės draugija “Feniksai” (Society of Multiple Sclerosis "Feniksai")
This Society brings together multiple sclerosis patients and their relatives and tries to support them by providing information based on the latest scientific research. It also involves professionals of different fields like doctors, social workers, and others who give professional advice. The Society helps patients and their relatives to solve various problems relating to MS and its consequences.
If you would like to know more about Society of Multiple Sclerosis “Feniksai”, click on this link.
Parkinsono draugija (Parkinson's Society)
Lietuvos artrito asociacija (Arthritis Association of Lithuania)
Arthritis Association of Lithuania unites persons with arthritis and their family members.
If you would like to know more about the Association, click on this link.
Lietuvos sutrikusios psichikos žmonių globos bendrija (Lithuanian Society for the Care of People with Mental Disabilities)
Founded in 1997, the Lithuanian Association for the Care of People with Mental Disabilities is the main umbrella organisation of the non-governmental sector, uniting people with mental disabilities, their families and communities throughout Lithuania.
If you would like to know more about the Association, click on this link.
More info: Link 1 | Link 2
Lietuvos aklųjų ir silpnaregių sąjunga (LASS) The Lithuanian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired (LASS)
The Lithuanian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired (LASS) is the largest and oldest organisation uniting the visually impaired in Lithuania. LASS’s history started in 1926. Currently, the LASS brings together those who are blind or visually impaired and advocates for their rights and interests. With more than 6,000 members, LASS is the founder of 12 law firms and has 49 branches.
If you would like to know more about servicies of LASS, click on this link.
Pagalbos onkologiniams ligoniams asociacija POLA (Association for Oncology Patient Support)
POLA represents and defends the interests of cancer patients before public authorities and institutions, and develops public awareness campaigns and educational programmes. It also provides targeted services to patients and their caregivers via the POLA card programme, so that people affected by serious health problems can receive the best possible and most appropriate assistance and support.
If you would like to know more about the Association, click on this link.
How can I find and join a self-help group?
You can contact the association for people with a particular disease (for example multiple sclerosis, arthritis, Parkinsons disease, dementia etc.), or disability (for example, mental disability) and ask about joining events, meetings, lectures. You can also ask if there are self-help groups for caregivers to join, or whether there are other informal caregivers with whom you could talk.
Good practices
Lithuanian Society for the Care of People with Mental Disabilities
Founded in 1997, the Lithuanian Association for the Care of People with Mental Disabilities is the main umbrella organisation of the non-governmental sector, uniting people with mental disabilities, their families and communities throughout Lithuania.
Resources
The “Vilnius Healthier” team offers self-help groups for carers of people with disabilities or with long-term care needs.
Association for Oncology Patient Support (POLA)
The Association for Oncology Patient Support represents and defends the interests of cancer patients before public authorities and institutions, and develops public awareness companies and educational programmes. It also provides targeted services to patients and their caregivers via the POLA card programme, so that people affected by serious health problems can receive the best possible and the most appropriate assistance and support.
Arthritis Association of Lithuania
Arthritis Association of Lithuania unites persons with arthritis and their family members.
This association brings together patients with central nervous system tumours and their relatives.
Society of Multiple Sclerosis “Feniksai”
This Society brings together multiple sclerosis patients and their relatives and tries to support them by providing information based on the latest scientific research. It also involves professionals of different fields like doctors, social workers, and others who give professional advice. The Society helps patients and their relatives to solve various problems relating to MS and its consequences
This Society brings together people with Parkinson’s disease and their families, welcoming patients, caregivers, friends, doctors, students and anyone interested in Parkinson’s disease to join.
Connected topics
What about me as an informal caregiver?
Dutch statistics indicate that almost 10% of informal caregivers feels severely overwhelmed and 46% indicates to feel they are unable to share their worries. Where so many support services are focussed on care receivers, care givers may feel overlooked and underappreciated.
Interviewees for project YoungCare indicated to need a space where they can come into contact with each other, share knowledge and experience, and set up social connections; a space where the needs and difficulties of informal care are explained, so new informal carers can find what to expect, and others might better understand the position they are in.
This module provides a list of such services and spaces, where you can find tips and tricks, personal stories, and emotional support from co-carers like yourself.
How and where to find a self-help group in the Netherlands?
There are a number of websites, platforms, and support groups available in the Netherlands. Check out the list of services below to find the support that you need.
Mantelzorgelijk
Mantelzorgelijk is a foundation promoting the interests of informal carers. It provides a platform where caregivers can share their knowledge, experiences, and feelings. On their website you will find information on informal caregiving, as well as a closed forum, a blog, personal stories and tips and tricks.
Check out the Mantelzorgelijk website to be part of their community.
MantelzorgNL
MantelzorgNL is the Dutch national informal care association. Their website features information on various topics, articles, tips and advice. They also have information on peer contact as well as a list of informal care support services throughout the country.
MantelzorgNL has a national informal care helpline for all questions and problems: 030 – 760 60 55 (phone calls), 06 27 23 68 54 (WhatsApp), mantelzorglijn@mantelzorg.nl
Find out more here.
Find an informal care support organisation here.
Kompassie family evenings
Organisation Kompassie organises so-called family evenings ten times per year. A speaker will talk about a certain theme, and informal carers can meet, dine, and share experiences in an informal setting. The meetings take place in the Hague.
Is the Hague too far? There exist many local informal care groups that have regular meetings and activities. Use the search terms ‘lotgenotencontact’, ‘mantelzorger’ and the name of your municipality to find them in your region.
Good practices
Resources
How to start a peer contact group for informal carers?
MantelzorgNL is the Dutch national informal caregiving association. Its website features information on various topics, articles, tips and advice.
MantelzorgNL is the Dutch national informal care association. Its website features information on various topics, articles, tips and advice.
Mantelzorgelijk is a foundation promoting the interests of informal carers. It provides a platform where caregivers can share their knowledge, experiences, and feelings.
Mantelzorg centraal is a regional centre of expertise for informal carers. This centre works with several informal care organisations. Its platform includes news, information, personal stories, and helpful links to support services.