A group of people who provide emotional support, practical help,
information, guidance or feedback to ease stressful experiences
and help with coping a formal gathering of persons sharing
common interests and issues. The participants and facilitators
share information, mutual support and often exchange coping
skills with one another. Voluntary group of individuals who meet
periodically to exchange information and to provide mutual
comfort in connection with some medical problem. Various
prostate cancer and impotence support groups exist for men and
their families. Groups of patients (and sometimes their
relatives or friends) who have the same type of disease. Get
together to talk about their experiences and find ways of
helping themselves. The existence or availability of people on
whom an individual can rely for the provision of emotional
caring and concern, and reinforcement of a sense of personal
worth and value. Other components of support may include
provision of practical or material aid, information, g