People always have concerns about using the Internet regardless of whether it’s for a credit card transaction, or for meeting a potential partner. So it’s no surprise to us that those concerns have been brought to the fore once more when it comes to online support groups and meetings.

In this 5 part series, we address those concerns and show you how they are overcome.

Part 5. The Advantages to the Service Provider

Over this series we have discussed the common concerns surrounding online support. We have talked a lot about the studies and research that concludes online support is:

• A free and safe environment to talk
• A supplement, not a replacement to online support groups
• Non-isolating
• Offering unique user advantages

So, the final issue we’d like to address is:  What are the advantages for my organisation?

There are a number of key advantages of offering online support groups:

• Offering online support groups is very cost effective not only for the participant but from the point of view of the service provider too. That means that, even if you already hold face-to-face support groups, you can supplement these with online support for a very low cost.
• The Internet is not a replacement for the real world, but is part of it. For support groups that are established to help people with relatively rare illnesses, hosting meetings where there is no guarantee how many people will attend can be risky. These problems could dissuade all but the largest or most established organisations from hosting support groups, yet groups of all sizes have an important part to play in democratising health information, often helping to shape medical understanding of their respective disorder (Fox, 2001). Online Support Groups can bring together people from all over the country, or indeed the world, quickly and effectively.
• Online support groups have the potential to reach such a large number of people at such minimal expense. Online support groups are very cost effective for both participant and the service provider.
• Online Support and the Internet is an open source of information for the substantial number of people that do not receive any other treatment.
• Online support groups can be way of reaching sub-clinical cases, and as such, may serve as an important tool for prevention.

We believe that Online Support Groups are a valuable part of modern therapeutic techniques. We believe that by using a combination of advanced technology and simple methodology, every organisation can offer their service users something accessible and professional while retaining all the integrity of the traditional therapy methods.

Online Support Groups are not a replacement for face-to-face contact with traditional support groups or therapists. They are simply another method to reach the people who need your help.