People seeking help for personal problems usually turn to family, friends, and relatives first and then to sources such as neighborhood support systems, self-help groups, and community helpers such as physicians and clergy. These natural support systems need to be used and supported more by mental health professionals. One relationship which could be encouraged is the one between the clergy and self-help groups. The relationships and communications between these two groups were clarified in a two-part study. In the first part of the study, religious leaders (N=200), within Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran and Baptist organizations in Chicago were surveyed concerning their attitudes toward self-help groups. Results showed that 70 percent of the respondents (N=64) had made at least one referral to a self-help group and that the religious leaders had generally positive feelings towards these groups. Even though they felt that self-help groups would be helpful, the religious leaders were aware of specific self-help groups to whom they could refer for only 54 percent of the problems brought to them by congregation members. In the second part of the study, a consultation session was provided for a sample of the religious leaders who had never made a referral to a self-help group. The results showed an observable increase in activities involving self-help groups following consultation, suggesting that mental health professionals can provide the clergy with information and resources about self-help groups in their communities. (ABB)