I have included a variety of websites which may help meet your needs. I have also
included some important but unlinked categories of services and support.
For these, you will have to search for local agencies which provide them in your area.
The links under "Resources" are some of the best places to call for this information.
General | Resources |
Treatment | Support |
Other Mental Illnesses | Miscellaneous |
Similar Artistic Sites
Crisis Line Numbers
General and Diagnostic Information
- www.allaboutdepression.com - This is a very thorough site providing a lot of information
about diagnosis, treatment, and living with depression and other mood disorders.
- www.mentalhelp.net - An online depression screening test. This is not a substitute for
a professional evaluation but may assist in determining whether such an evaluation
is necessary.
Resources
(The links below refer to major national organizations with
local chapters. They contain a wealth of
online information and support forums, and this is the best place to start
when hunting for support and services locally.)
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - one of the largest organizations to offer information, support, and advocacy for families and people with all mental illnesses.
- DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance)
- National Mental Health Association - mental health information and advocacy.
Treatment
- Medication
- www.crazymeds.org - an amazing reference guide for medication information. It's written by consumers
for consumers, using the experiences of the authors, informations from the drug companies,
and emails from others who have written to them. The site has a great sense of humor, which
lessens the sense of overwhelm which often comes with researching medications and side effects.
There is also an associated message board where you can ask questions and help others with your
experiences.
- www.aidsmeds.com - This site is not
just for people with AIDS. It has a way of checking the interactions of your medications. The
information may be a little overwhelming for many people, but if the site indicates major interactions
between your meds, it's worth printing a copy of the report and bringing it in to your
psychiatrist.
- Therapy
- Directory of liscenced psychologists
- Directory of Marriage and Family Therapists - includes many MFT's with information about their practice
- Other options for finding therapists include: (a) local directories (some cities have local directories published in print or online), (b) insurance company listings, (c) word of mouth (when possible, this is often the best way of finding therapists and psychiatrists), and (d) crisis lines (these will often have information about free or sliding-scale local options for people without insurance).
Support
- NAMI - online communities and local chapters
- DBSA - online forums and local support - DBSA is unique in that it offers local support group meetings where family members and people with depression/bipolar can meet in separate groups but at the same time.
- Depression Fallout - a site for partners and family members of people with depression and bipolar disorder. The site features several books by Anne Sheffield for family members as well as online message boards.
- Depression Forums - online forums and blogs for people with mood disorders.
- about.com - online support as well as numerous articles about depression
- There are a variety of other sites which offer various forms of online support and can be found through internet searches.
Other Mental Illnesses
- Check out the NAMI website for more information and links on other mental illnesses.
Miscellaneous
- Social Security Disability -
If you have been or will be disabled by depression such that it prevents you
from working for more than 12 months, then you may want to look into Social
Security benefits. (If your disability is less long or less severe, you are
better off looking into state or employer-based disability options.)
- Independent Living Centers -
ILC's provide a variety of resources for all people with disabilities, from assistance
finding low-income or supported housing to employment assistance and more. They
often know all the appropriate people to talk to about your needs if you are disabled.
- Clubhouses -
Clubhouses are a place where people with mental illness can go to belong to a
community, learn job skills, and help reach out to others in need. This is a
membership organization, not a treatment center, and is not staffed by doctors,
nurses, or therapists.
- Impact - This is a San Diego social community
for young adults (ages 18-35) with mental illness. I mention this because I am
one of the co-founders of this organization and because the needs of young adults
are so distinctive from those of other age ranges. If you are a young adult,
ask around about programs for your age range and opportunities to meet others
in your situation.
Similar Artistic Sites
- Opacity -
This site shows photographs of a variety of abandoned buildings, including several
older state hospitals. It also includes numerous comments from people who worked,
visited, or were patients there which help to fill out what these places used to be
like. (Caution: This site is fascinating but disturbing. Remember, these stories are
descriptions of the past. They do not reflect my experiences in local hospitals today.
Don't let these photos deter you from getting help if hospitalization is what you need
in order to stay safe!)
- Fine Line:
Mental Health/Mental Illness by Michael Nye - a photo documentary of people with
mental illness, accompanied by audio segments about the lives of the people depicted
in the photographs.
- Depression: A Visual Journal of Healing &
Transformation - A photographer and poet have collaborated to create a site which
captures and communicates the experience of depression.
