GROW (support group)

Grow is a peer support and mutual-aid organization for recovery from, and prevention of, mental illness.

Grow was founded in Sydney, Australia in 1957 by Father Cornelius B. "Con" Keogh, a Roman Catholic priest, and psychiatric patients who sought help with their mental illness in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Consequently, Grow adapted many of AA's principles and practices. Much of Grow's initial development was made possible with support from Orval Hobart Mowrer, Reuben F. Scarf, W. Clement Stone and Lions Clubs International.[1] As the organization matured, Grow members learned of Recovery International, an organization also created to help people with serious mental illness, and integrated aspects of its will-training methods.[2][1]

As of 2005 there were more than 800 Grow groups active worldwide.[3] Grow groups are open to anyone who would like to join.

"Grow" is not an acronym.[4]

Grow has no affiliation with any organised religion or church, and is not itself any sort of religion or church. While some parts of the Grow program refer to God due to the role God has played in the recovery and growth of many Growers from the beginning, alternative non-religious phrasings are provided.

  1. ^ a b Keogh, C.B. (1979). Grow Comes of Age: A Celebration and a Vision!. Sydney, Australia: Grow Publications. ISBN 0-909114-01-3. OCLC 27588634.
  2. ^ Kurtz, Linda F.; Chambon, Adrienne (1987). "Comparison of self-help groups for mental health". Health & Social Work. 12 (4): 275–283. doi:10.1093/hsw/12.4.275. ISSN 0360-7283. OCLC 2198019. PMID 3679015.
  3. ^ Corrigan, Patrick; Slopen, Natalie; Garcia, Gabriela; Keogh, Cornelius B.; Keck, Lorraine (December 2005). "Some Recovery Processes in Mutual-Help Groups for Persons with Mental Illness; II: Qualitative Analysis of Participant Interviews". Community Mental Health Journal. 41 (6): 721–735. doi:10.1007/s10597-005-6429-0. ISSN 0010-3853. OCLC 38584278. PMID 16328585. S2CID 476941.
  4. ^ Rappaport, J.; Seidman, E.; Toro, P. A.; McFadden, L. S.; Reischl, T. M.; Robers, L. J.; Salem, D. A.; Stein, C. H.; Zimmerman, M. A. (Winter 1985). "Collaborative research with a mutual help organization". Social Policy. 15 (3): 12–24. ISSN 0037-7783. OCLC 1765683. PMID 10270879.