United we cope: support groups for the dying and bereaved.

Historically, self-help groups have been the backbone of Western culture. They are found in every facet of society from the women's health movement to the urban poor. They are prominent in professional as well as nonprofessional settings, meeting the needs and desires of people in every walk of life. This article examines the development of the self-help movement with particular emphasis on the psychological, educational, and motivational functions performed. Particular attention is focused on the significant resources that self-help support groups provide for the bereaved and those coping with life-threatening illness.