This study investigates whether large-scale, day-long stress managementworkshops open to the general public can work as well as small, weeklygroups run for referred clients. It is suggested that the self-referralroute may enable some people who might otherwise have been‘‘filtered out’’ from the traditional health servicesto get help for their stress-related problems. Analysis showed that thelarge-scale format was just as effective with a more distressed subgroup aswas the small weekly format for formally referred clients, which suggeststhat the effectiveness of this approach is not only related to a restrictedclient group. It would appear that the low drop-out rate, the effectivenessof the workshops and the severity of problem handled within this formatindicates potential value in this type of approach.