These resources provide information on:
- mental illness and treatment
- practical help
- mental health screening tools
- helping a loved one with mental illness.
These resources are some of the best of the many available online resources.
Mental Illnesses and Treatments
- Adults: http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions and http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment
- Adults and Adolescents: http://www.helpguide.org/
- Children and Adolescents (information on behavioral problems and mental illness in children and adolescents, together with advice on treatment and coping): https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/FFF-Guide-Home.aspx
- Medications: http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications
- Mental Health Apps: see highly rated products, especially for Cognitive Behavior Therapy at http://psyberguide.org/product-listing/; also, go to https://www.adaa.org/and type “mental health apps” in the search box for reviews of mental health apps, including three free apps for reducing stress and anxiety that have been recommended by another group of clinicians: Headspace (to learn meditation), Breathe2Relax, and Self-Help Anxiety Management. For more information, see “Left to Our Own Devices – Sorting through the Bewildering World of Therapeutic Apps“.
Practical Help
- Resources to help you find mental health treatment services, including affordable treatment for those without insurance, in your community:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/finding-therapy - Government Services:
http://www.specialneedsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/benefits-chart.pdf and https://namimainlinepa.org/info-resources/how-to-get-services/ - Health Care Parity/Equity Law:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsmhpaea.html and https://www.pinterest.com/namipamainline/mental-healthcare-access/ - Prescription Drug Assistance programs: https://www.pinterest.com/namipamainline/prescription-drug-assistance-programs/
- Criminal Justice: http://www.slideshare.net/NAMIPAMainLine/criminal-justice-systemmentalillness
- Legal and Financial Planning for the Future: https://namimainlinepa.org/planning-for-the-legal-and-financial-future-of-a-loved-one-with-mental-illness/
Mental Health Screening Tools
If you are wondering whether it would be advisable to seek professional help, these screening tools can help you evaluate your situation (or your child’s).
- Online screening tools for Adults, Adolescents and Parents:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screening-tools - Online screening tool for behavioral health:
http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/cityofphila - Online screening tools in Spanish (Pruebas de Salud Mental):
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/pruebas-de-salud-mental-en-espanol
Helping a Loved One with Mental Illness
- Advice on coping with a crisis and preparing for an emergency available at:
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/ (click on Get Help) - Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for helping someone with depression, panic, psychosis, problem substance use, and other mental health problems are available at: https://mhfa.com.au/cms/guidelines
- Guides to understanding and helping someone with mental illnesses, as well as advice on stress management and sleep, are available at: http://helpguide.org/ (Search for how to help someone with mental illness.)
- Tools for supporting a loved one who has mental health needs: https://www.pinterest.com/namipamainline/caregiver-support-mental-illness/
- General Advice at https://namimainlinepa.org/info-resources/advice-coping-with-smi/
- Summary of a family education program with helpful information and advice for people who care about someone living with mental illness is available at: http://www.ouhsc.edu/safeprogram/ (Click on the specific lessons to get to the very helpful handouts.)
- Tools for supporting oneself while caring for a loved one with mental health needs:
https://www.pinterest.com/namipamainline/caregiver-selfcare/
We invite you to explore our additional resources on:
