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The National Institute of Mental Health reports that one in four U.S. adults has a mental disorder. With the high number of people affected by mental illness, a number of organizations are trying to spread the word about this serious problem. Below you will find resources that lead you to information on a variety of mental health topics.

Gateways to Mental Health Information
General Mental Health Resources
Mental Health Information About
Reports from the Surgeon General

Gateways to Mental Health Information:

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General Mental Health Resources

Publications

A Consumer's Guide to Mental Health Services: Decade of the Brain NIH — This page is a guide to locating mental health services. Many individuals who are looking for help for themselves or a loved one ask the same questions. It contains some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/cmh94-5001/Default.asp
Action Steps for Improving Women's Mental Health and Women's Health: What It Means to You — These two reports outline specific action steps for health care professionals to address the burden of mental illness on women's lives, and address the stigma associated with mental health, respectively. They provide information on the signs and symptoms of mental illness and solutions for preventing and coping with mental illness.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/OWH09/default.aspx
Building Self-Esteem: A Self-Help Guide — This publication provides information, ideas, and strategies to relieve and prevent troubling feelings and symptoms.
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3715/default.asp
The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America — This fact sheet describes statistics on mental disorders in the United States, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. It also includes information on the economic costs of mental illness.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml...
Mental Health (Copyright © NOAH) — This website provides links to online publications with in depth information about various mental health issues and disorders; the symptoms, causes and treatment options.
http://www.noah-health.org/en/mental/index.html
Mental Health: What's Normal, What's Not (Copyright © Mayo Foundation) — Deciding what's normal mental health and what's not is tricky. See how feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as culture and society, determine what's normal and what's not.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00042
Mental Illness in the Family: Recognizing the Warning Signs and How to Cope (Copyright © MHA) — This publication explains what mental illnesses are, how to recognize them and what treatments are available.
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-to-cope...
National Social Worker Finder (Copyright © NASW) — This website provides the most comprehensive, user-friendly National Social Worker Finder.
http://www.helppro.com/aspdocs/naswbsearch1.asp

Organizations

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Mental Health Information About:

Caregiving and Caregivers

Publications

Fact Sheet — Caregiver Stress — This publication provides tips for relieving the stress of caregivers, as well as types of support that are available.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/caregiver-stress.cfm
National Family Caregiver Support Program — This site provides information, assistance, and support to caregivers.
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HCLTC/Caregiver/index.aspx
Depression and Caregivers (Copyright © Alzheimer's Association) — This publication is written for caregivers so they can recognize the signs of depression in themselves and learn more about treatment.
http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_depression_and_caregivers.asp
Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers (Copyright © FCA) — This publication provides information on how being a caregiver can affect your physical and mental health and what you can do to maintain your own physical and emotional well being.
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=847

Organizations

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Disaster/Trauma

Publications

Coping with Traumatic Events — This web site is a compilation of information about coping with traumatic events from the National Institute of Mental Health. It has special information for helping children that many parents and organizations have found useful.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/coping-with-traumatic-events/index.shtml
FEMA: Fact sheet - Terrorism — This publication contains important information for preparing for a terrorist attack, response during a terrorist attack, and how to respond following a terrorist attack.
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/terrorism/index.shtm
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — Many women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after events such as domestic violence, abuse, and rape. This publication discusses the importance of getting help for symptoms associated with PTSD, and it also provides a checklist of the physical and mental symptoms that women with PTSD might have.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-easy-to-read/index.shtml...
Ready.gov — This site was designed by the Department of Homeland Security to provide information on citizen preparedness. It provides information on how to react to even unlikely scenarios. You should be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. Check this site for the most current information and recommendations.
http://www.ready.gov/
SAMHSA's Disaster Relief Information — When natural disasters occur, individuals can lose their entire communities. Immediately following such crises and for the long-term, SAMHSA focuses on its mission of “Building Resilience and Facilitating Recovery” for those affected. This site is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable of those affected by crises; individuals with substance abuse and mental illness disorders.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/disasterrelief/
Managing your mental health condition during a disaster (Copyright © MFMER) — This fact sheet provides some strategies to guide your management of a mental health condition during a disaster. It discusses planning ahead, managing medications, managing therapy, and self-care.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00124
Mass Disasters, Trauma, and Loss (Copyright © International Society For Traumatic Stress Studies) — This publication describes what to expect after experiencing disaster. It discusses how to reduce the vulnerability to serious emotional responses and when to seek professional help.
http://www.istss.org/resources/disaster_trauma_and_loss.cfm

Organizations

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Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Publications

A Quick Guide to Finding Effective Alcohol and Drug Treatment — Before choosing an alcohol and drug treatment program, answer the 12 questions featured on this Web site. Your answers to these questions will help you determine the best program for you.
http://csat.samhsa.gov/faqs.aspx
Alcohol: A Women's Health Issue — This booklet discusses statistics, risks, benefits, and more about women and alcohol consumption. It also talks about women and problem drinking.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator — This Web site will help you locate a substance abuse treatment facility in your area.
http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Organizations

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Eating Disorders

Publications

Eating Disorders — This detailed booklet describes symptoms, causes, and treatments of eating disorders. It also includes information on getting help and coping.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/summary.shtml
How to Afford Appropriate Treatment for an Eating Disorder: A Guide for Patients & Their Families (Copyright © National Eating Disorder Association) — This publication provides detailed information on where to find appropriate treatment, how to find out if it is covered by insurance, what to do if it isn't, and where to get financial assistance for eating disorder treatment.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=758

Organizations

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Medications

Publications

Mental Health Medications — This booklet is designed to help mental health patients and their families understand how and why medications can be used as part of the treatment of mental health problems.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml...
St. John's Wort and Depression — This fact sheet has information about St. John's Wort, a popular herb being used by the public today to treat mild depression. This publication includes information on the FDA's role to monitor the use of this herb, how St. John's Wort works, how it is used to treat depression, and a drug interaction advisory.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm
Antidepressants: What You Need to Know About Depression Medication (Copyright © HelpGuide.org) — This publication describes how antidepressants work, including information about effectiveness and withdrawal. It lists the different types of antidepressants available and also describes the available treatment alternatives.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/medications_depression.htm
Depression: How Medicines Can Help (Copyright © AAFP) — This fact sheet addresses common questions and concerns regarding the role of antidepressants in treating depression: options for treatment, how to chose an antidepressant, common side effects and how to tell if the medication is effective. Included are resources for more information.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/045.html...
Medications for Anxiety Disorders (Copyright © ADAA) — This fact sheet contains information about what to ask your doctor before taking medication for anxiety disorders, side effects, where to find financial assistance, and more. It also links to information for parents and a medications chart with information about the drugs available.
http://www.adaa.org/gettinghelp/AnxietyDisorders/Medications.asp
Schizophrenia (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — This Web site provides information on schizophrenia, focusing on how it is treated and what the future holds for schizophrenia drug treatments.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/266.html...

Organizations

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Stress

Publications

Fact Sheet — Stress and Your Health — This publication discusses the causes and signs of stress. It also lists the health effects and gives tips to help you handle your stress.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/stress-your-health.cfm
Managing Stress — This tutorial will teach you what stress is, why it is risky to your health, the symptoms and causes of stress, and how to prevent and manage it.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/managingstress/htm/index.htm
The Different Kinds of Stress (Copyright © APA) — This fact sheet describes the different kinds of stress, including acute stress, episodic acute stress and chronic stress.
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=21
How Can I Manage Stress? (Copyright © AHA) — This fact sheet discusses how stress can cause heart problems. It describes how to manage your stress and who to call for help.
http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/110167971464923%20HowCanIManageStress.pdf...
How Does Stress Affect Your Body? (Copyright © APA) — This interactive tool allows you to click on different systems of the body to see how stress affects them.
http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=141
Stress and Pregnancy (Copyright © MOD) — This fact sheet contains information on how stress can affect a pregnancy and how mothers can prevent and cope with stress during their pregnancy.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_527.asp
Stress Assessment (Copyright © MFMER) — This is an assesment you can take to better understand your stress. It consists of six questions, and after answering the questions it rates your level of stress as low, moderate or high. It gives suggestions on how to improve your stress level.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-assessment/SR00029
Stress Basics (Copyright © MFMER) — This web site contains links that help you find out how stress is harmful, recognize stress symptoms, and explore practical tips on stress relief and stress management.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/SR99999

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Suicide

Publications

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention — This site provides information, statistics, news articles, and other resources on suicide and suicide prevention.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/suicideprevention/strategy.asp
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Brochure: When It Seems Like There Is No Hope, There Is Help — This brochure explains the warning signs of suicide and how to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0141/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: After an Attempt - A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department — This brochure is a guide for family members of a person who has attempted to commit suicide. It describes how they can help inform the emergency department that is treating the patient and how to ensure successful follow-up treatment afterwards.
http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/SVP-0159/SVP-0159.pdf
Older Adults: Depression and Suicide Facts — This Web site discusses depression and suicide facts among older adults and ways in which depression can be treated.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/older-adults-depression-and-suicide-facts.shtml...
Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention — This fact sheet is a brief overview of suicide statistics in the United States. It discusses the difference in suicide data between men and women, racial and ethnic groups, and age groups.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml...
If You Are Considering Suicide (Copyright © American Association of Suicidology) — If you are feeling suicidal, it’s important to seek medical help right away. You are not alone. Many people have suicidal thoughts. But it’s important that depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other problems that inspire suicidal thinking are treatable. A suicidal crisis is usually temporary. Your problems do have solutions — you just can’t see them right now. This publication will tell you more about the help and hope available for people considering suicide.
http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-32.pdf...
Suicide Prevention: Common Misconceptions (Copyright © Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) — This Web page dispels common myths about suicide and offers advice on how to help someone who may be at risk.
http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=705EC833-E77D-2519-FA362EDFA62268C7...

Organizations

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Treatment and Recovery

Publications

Mental Illness: What a Difference a Friend Makes — This site is for people with mental illness and their friends. You'll find tools to help in the recovery process, learn about the different kinds of mental illnesses, read real-life stories about support and recovery, and watch the video to see how friends can make all the difference.
http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/
Mental Treatment and Therapy Guide — This publication discusses the warning signals that a patient needs professional help, what to do in emergency situations, and different forms of treatment for mental illness. It also describes the different types of mental health professionals and what they do.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/cmh94-5001/treatment.asp
About Psychosocial Interventions (Copyright © NAMI) — This page links to information about different psychosocial interventions that are used to treat mental illness. It discusses assertive community treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dual diagnosis, self-management, and more.
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About_Treatments_and_Suppor...
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) (Copyright © MHA) — This publication discusses electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), what it is, how it is administered, and why it is so controversial.
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/treatment/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect...
Mental Illness and the Family: Is Hospitalization Necessary (Copyright ©MHA) — This publication lists questions to ask before having a member of your family admitted to a hospital for treatment of a mental illness. It also lists questions to ask to ensure successful treatment after leaving the hospital.
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/is-hospitalization-necessary...
Psychotherapy: Definition (Copyright © Mayo Foundation) — This publication describes psychotherapy, why it is used, how to prepare for it, and what to expect.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psychotherapy/MY00186

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Reports from the Surgeon General

Publications

Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General — This report examines mental health in the United States, and how it pertains to all people.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html
Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity - A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General — This report is a follow-up to the 1999 Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health. It provides information on the prevalence of mental health problems in minority communities. It explains why minorities are at risk for developing a mental illness and how to ensure that they have equal access to treatment services.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/cre/
Surgeon General's Workshop on Women’s Mental Health — This document summarizes the views and issues addressed by invited speakers and discussants at the Surgeon General's Women’s Mental Health Workshop. This workshop brought together experts from the consumer, academic, advocacy, health insurance, health care delivery, program management, and public policy communities to explore sex and gender differences in mental health and to address critical mental health issues affecting girls and women.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/womensmentalhealth/

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