Contents 1 Support Groups/Networks 1.1 History 1.2 Current Issues 1.3 Future 2 Further Information 2.1 See Also 2.2 References

Support Groups/Networks

A support group functions as a means of support to those who have abnormal conditions or behaviours. They exist for a variety of disorders including cancer, quit smoking, eating disorders, mental illness, alcoholics as well as numerous other sicknesses and syndromes. The two types of support groups are self-help support and professionally run support groups, which are run by their members and by professionals respectively.

According to Supportpath.com (2002), support groups that operate over the internet provide users with the following services:

• Information
• The feeling that "I am not alone" and the chance to become part of a group of people who have similar experiences
• An opportunity to help others and share their experiences
• A forum to "vent"
• A sense of hope

History

Although formal support groups may seem to be a outcome of recent times, in some ways they are utilised in conjunction with traditional fraternal organisations such as Freemasonry, who too form relationships and support their members. They may also expand on support roles usually performed by families and friends.

Current Issues

Although support groups aim to act as a positive support system for members, there are such groups in existence that promote controversial and potentially damaging disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. Instead of regarding these disorders as an illness or disease in which sufferers wish to be recovered, members of these groups believe that they are not ill at all, but regard their actions as “accomplishments (Rexia World in Taylor).�? They support their members in their “lifestyle choice (Ana's Underground Grotto, 2005).�?

Future

Due to extensive media coverage on controversial support groups such as pro-ana, some servers, such as Yahoo, have ceased the running of such support sites. However, this action has proven to be futile, with many sites now claiming to be diet sites rather than pro-ana, yet still containing the same materials as before (Taylor, 2005). Nevertheless, there are also many other support groups for other illnesses and diseases that continue to provide an online medium of support for victims and sufferers (SupportPath, 2002).

Further Information

See Also

SupportPath
Ana's Underground Grotto

References

About SupportPath.com (2002) http://www.supportpath.com/policy/aboutus.htm (Accessed on 27 October 2005)

Ana's Underground Grotto. (2005) http://www.plagueangel.org/grotto/ (Accessed on 27 October 2005)

Taylor, E. (2002). Totally in Control: The Rise Pro-ana/Pro-mia Websites. http://www.sirc.org/articles/totally_in_control.shtml (Accessed on 27 October 2005)

Jenny Le 11:51, 28 Oct 2005 (EST)