Giving Back and Getting Something Back: The Role of Mutual-Aid Groups for Individuals in Recovery From Incarceration, Addiction, and Mental Illness

Abstract

Mutual-aid groups for people in recovery from mental illness, addictions, and former incarceration are virtually nonexistent. This article provides a review of the literature on mutual-aid groups for people who have previous incarceration histories and a review of groups for people with mental illness and multiple concerns (i.e., co-occurring diagnoses). Next, we present the “What's Up?” group, a component of the Citizenship Community Enhancement Project, as an example of a mutual-aid group that was developed to better address these multiple concerns. The “What's Up?” group was designed as a mutual-aid component for individuals living with mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse concerns who also have a history of previous involvement with the criminal justice system. Experiences of participants highlight ways in which the “What's Up?” group provided opportunities for its members to not only “give back” but to “get something back” from the sharing of experiences and feedback offered from their peers.