3. SELF- HELP GROUP
In society several problems related to illiteracy, lack of skills,
financial hardship, and false stigma related to diseases are present
which need collective efforts. In this regard, self-help groups are an
emerging social resource for improving healthcare facilities. Existing
self-help groups can be included in the health system for awakening the
community about SCD. They provide social and emotional support,
decreases the feeling of isolation, provide practical knowledge to
patient and families for better understanding of the disease. Self-help
groups may overcome the discrimination associated with disease
disability and enhance communication among the members of a family,
professionals, nurses and counselors who deal with related problems. SCD
affected family members can become a part of self –help groups as these
groups are engaged in diverse set of activities including health care,
education, microcredit, campaigning, and rehabilitation which
facilitates empowerment among families. The belief behind self-help
group is that the shared experience of a group is highly valuable in the
promotion of understanding and healing mental health (venting out
frustration stress and tension)19. Self –help groups
act as a venting therapy for SCD affected families and patients too.