The role of mutual aid/self-help in North American occupational assistance: Past, present and future.

Abstract

Occupational assistance programming has evolved from welfare capitalism during the 1800's to Occupational Alcoholism Programs, Employee Assistance Programs, to the emerging trend of Worksite Wellness Programming. Instrumental to this evolution has been the self-help movement and its three primary principles. This article reviews the role self-help/mutual aid has had in shaping occupational assistance in North America.