Self-help Norway
Self-Help Norway is a National resource center for Self-help.
In 2004 The Norwegian Directorate of Health launched the “National Plan for Self-help” as part of the Escalation Plan for Mental Health (1999-2008). The plan has evolved through a long and complex process, which started with the work done by Norwegian Self-Help Forum (NSF), helped by various external contributors. Among the initiatives is the establishment of a resource center for self-help, Self-Help Norway, which is run by Norwegian Self-Help Forum (NSF).
The aim of the plan is to make self-help available to more people and to promote systematic method development and knowledge about self-help. The vision is for all people in Norway to have knowledge of self-help so it can be put to use when life problems occur.
Self-Help Norway, The National resource center
The National resource center is tied to a body/institution based on experienced knowledge from the self-help field (NSF). Self-Help Norway intend and work to ensure:
- that information about self-help is made available to the population in general
- that more people make use of the opportunity for self-help
- that a network and permanent structures are established
- exchange of knowledge about self-help
- development and acquisition of empirical knowledge
- that the self-help work is further developed and that the work is given an official authorization
Norway is an elongated country with a lot of small villages and cities. In the period of 2010-2012 we established seven regional offices. This makes it more efficient to distribute knowledge and information, to arrange courses and seminars and meet people where they live. Self-Help Norway has 13 employees.
