[Lay help in rehabilitation of psychiatrically handicapped patients--report of two comparative empirical studies].

Two studies on lay helping in the rehabilitation of persons with chronic mental illness are reported. Lay helpers, clients and staff from two social psychiatric centres participated in structured interviewing; supplementary procedures were used on some aspects. The findings show that interaction of the three groups included is moulded by a multitude of expectations and incompatibilities, which are of relevance to the very concept of lay help. "Lay helping" is set out as a very meaningful and urgently needed approach in the rehabilitation of persons with chronic mental illness- at the same time however characterized as a transition toward developing an independent conception in terms of community psychology and community psychiatry.