GROW encourages members to cooperate with the professional help they may need and indeed research shows that mutual help groups can be an important complement to professional services, and also an important aid in the reduction of relapse.

Taking on leadership roles in GROW is a major key to getting well. Read more about the benefits of taking on leadership roles...

A recent nation-wide study of GROW conducted by Dr Lisabeth Finn at Curtin University in Western Australia found that “GROW’s major advantage is that it offers a ‘real life’ mini-community where people can develop new skills. The benefits are concrete in terms of developing communication, social, life management and problem solving skills. But there are also improvements in the less tangible ‘quality of life’ arena which come via gradual identity transformation in terms of development of a sense of being useful, valuable and belonging.”

This research builds on more than 16 years of research during the 80’s and 90’s into GROW in the United States by Professor Julian Rappaport at the University of Illinois  and a doctoral study of mutual help undertaken by Professor Jim Young at the University of Tasmania.

Download: Women’s experiences at GROW: ‘There’s an opportunity there to grow way beyond what you thought you could…’
A thesis by Briony L. Kercheval submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Applied Psychology (Community) School of Psychology, Faculty of Arts Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia, March, 2005.