Resources
Psych Central: Dr. John Grohol's Mental Health Page. A personalized index for psychology, support, mental health issues, and resources.
About Guides to Bipolar Disorder.
A comprehensive source for information about bipolar disorder for patients, professionals, and loved ones of people who have bipolar disorder.
Each Mind Matters from the California Mental Health Services Authority promotes a vision of mental wellness and equality and seeks to reduce stigma.
Internet Mental Health. An online encyclopedia of mental health, comprehensive and well organized.
Bipolar Network News. A free newsletter of six editions per year giving the latest news on bipolar disorder research and treatment.
Healthline has a very good learning center reviewd by medical staff, as well as a current bipolar news section. Thanks Matty for suggesting this one.
Bipolar Significant Others. A site aimed at the families, friends and loved ones of those who suffer from bipolar disorder.
Network of Care includes a service directory, a library, a political advocacy tool, and community message boards. In particular, "My Folder" offers a WRAP training by Mary Ellen Copeland.
Fyreniyce. A wonderful discussion of the issues faced by bipolars with an Aussie no-nonsense directness.
NoStigmas seeks to raise awareness and erase the stigma about mental illness through education, offering help and sharing inspiring stories.
Walk In Our Shoes—mental heath education for the 9-13 age group.
Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation includes bipolar screening, information on new research and education for parents.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation offers articles and online consultation.
Clinical Depression Advisor offers news and information on depression and bipolar disorder.
Grants for Low Income is a directory of grants and benefits for low-income people and families in the USA.
Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families.
An excellent and authoritative guide. The Patient-Family Guide is available in pdf format.
NAMI's guide to Bipolar Disorder gives a detailed description of bipolar disorder, its symptoms, causes, treatments, and strategies for coping. (See NAMI's other guides too.)
An online booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health that answers many common questions about bipolar disorder.
The Merck Manual Home Edition's chapter on bipolar disorder gives a concise description of symptoms and treatment.
OfLikeMinds.com offers a wonderful collection of brief articles to help those living with mood and anxiety disorders. Topics include treatments, every-day life skills, navigating the mental health system, and many more.
Living with Bipolar Disorder: Brochures from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
Bipolar Advantage offers "Bipolar IN Order," online education to help you take control of bipolar disorder.
Helpguide.org has a comprehensive set of articles on bipolar disorder.
Help for Depression provides a comprehensive and in-depth guide to the various approaches and treatments for depression.
Understanding and Spotting Signs of Depression gives a good summary of the early warning signs of depression.
Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders contains comprehensive medical articles on over 150 mental disorders and conditions.
An excellent series of online guides covering many aspects of mental health from MIND a mental health charity in the UK.
An online guide covering unipolar and bipolar depression from SANE a mental health charity in the UK.
The Bipolar Child. Additional material from the authors of the book including articles and an extensive booklist.
GoodRx Health offers a very helpful Guide to Mental Health for Teens.
Healthline has a very informative section on depression.
Everyday Health offers a varied and extensive collection of articles.
Bipolar Symptoms offers a helpful discussion of the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Recovery Inc. is a UK-based online guide with articles focused on recovery for the major mental health diagnoses.
Vcool.com has a number of articles on coping with mental illness including this one on: Signs and Symptoms of Depression.
5 Signs of Common Mental Health Conditions gives five signs for each of: depression, anxiety obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder.
Understanding a Veteran with PTSD a brief introduction to living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for retired servicemen and women.
Karen from Relax Like A Boss offers a helpful article, "Depression Sucks: Here’s 11 Reasons Why And How To Beat Each One." The site focuses on relaxation techniques to beat stress.
7 Cups connects you to a trained active listener who is online, free and available to chat. Paid online therapy and free community support are also available.
betterhelp offers paid professional counseling online via live chat, messaging, phone and video conferencing.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill offers a local support group locator.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (was the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association) maintains a list of local support groups.
The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization working to eliminate barriers to timely treatment of severe mental illness.
Mental Health America gives a list of local support groups and much useful information.
bipolarUK—UK national support group for bipolar disorder.
The Balanced Mind Parent Network guides families raising children with mood disorders to the answers, support and stability they seek.
DualDiagnosis.org provides comprehensive information about addiction, treatment options and the path to full recovery. In particular, see the article on bipolar disorder and addiction.
Dual Diagnosis Network in the UK provides information, tools, resources, and links to peer-led support for those who are running into problems with mental health and/or addictive behaviours. In particular, see the article on bipolar disorder.
Bipolar and Addiction gives an overview of bipolar disorder with a focus on substance abuse as a co-ocurring disorder.
Drinking and Mental Health gives a useful introduction to the psychological effects of alcohol abuse.
Dual Recovery Anonymous is a twelve step, self-help fellowship organization for people who are both chemically dependent and also affected by an emotional or psychiatric illness.
AlcoRehab is a group of professionals who are passionate about helping those struggling with alcoholism. They have a section on Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Use.
AlcoRehabHelp was created to help those struggling with alcohol/substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. They have a page on Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Abuse.
QuitAlcohol.com offers articles, resouces, a discussion of options and a blog to help people overcome a drinking problem.
AddictionResource provides a community for those recovering from addiction and helps patients find the highest quality care for a successful recovery. They have a section on Addiction and Mood Disorder.
Addiction Group is a resource for people struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. It aims to help people find the right treatment for their individual needs.
Shatterproof is working to transform addiction treatment by helping people to locate science-based care. Their ATLAS treatment locator is a source of reliable information currently serving 14 states across the USA.
NAMI Communities—Bipolar Disorder: An active discussion group on living with bipolar disorder.
Strength of Us is an online community supported by NAMI where young adults living with mental health concerns can provide mutual support.
Psych Forums offers a large number of active forums on specific aspects of mental illness.
7 Cups connects you to a trained active listener who is online and available to chat. Online therapy and community support are also available.
Walkers in Darkness contains a number of fairly active discussion boards.
Mixed Nuts. A new portal with chat and message boards.
A Silver Lining. A portal with chat and message boards staffed by peer counselors.
Harbor of Refuge a discussion board for peer-to-peer support.
Bipolar World. Active discussion boards and much self-help info and articles.
Wing of Madness. A discussion board for family and friends of people with mental illness.
Bipolar Disorder Today. Articles, personal stories and volunteer email support.
Supportgroups.com includes an active bipolar discussion group.
Medications for Mental Health—an excellent summary of medications in use by the Santa Clara County Mental Health Dept.
Detailed discussion of medications used in mental health.
Extensive consumer information and an excellent drug interaction checker.
Prescription Drug Encyclopedia, Drug3k, is a thorough database of prescription drug information, side effects and interactions.
National Library of Medicine guide to prescription and over-the-counter medications.
RSCPP helps UK residents find access to counseling and psychotherapy.
McMan's Depression and Bipolar Web. A large collection of articles, categorized links and a weekly newsletter.
Suzy Johnston has written about her personal story of recovery in her book "The Naked Bird Watcher." She has also written about her bipolar journey in the British Medical Journal.
"She inspires people to continue living their lives while learning to manage a mental illness."
Beth Schaefer is the author of "Writing Through the Darkness" in which she draws on ten years of experience teaching those with mood disorders to ease depression through creative writing. Her blog offers many short writing exercises.
Julie Fast is co-author of "Loving Someone With Bipolar Disorder." Her site offers advice, a web log, a newsletter, and an extensive "frequently asked questions" section.
Bipolar-Lives.com Sarah's well-maintained personal site with lots of information: a blog, Q&A, a chat room, bipolar movie reviews and more.
Manic Moments: A Bipolar's World. Stories, personal journal and support forums.
Music Therapy: The Power of Music. Examines the power of using popular music in therapy. Includes examples of therapeutic messages in popular music as well as original music.
Video - Dark Glasses & Kaleidoscopes. An excellent introductory video to Manic Depression from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. (requires Real Video player).
Dr. Xavier Amador, author of "I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help," discusses the 40% of those with mental illness that lack insight regarding their illness and what we can do to help.
Peer-to-Peer Outreach Video An introduction to NAMI's excellent recovery education course free for anyone with a serious mental illness.
Caring for a child with mental health issues, is an excellent ten minute video from the BBC on what it is like to be a caregiver for a child with mental illness.
Pacifica offers a free app and website tool that incorporates principles and practices from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and mood charting together with a peer support community.
Free online/Windows/Mac/iPhone mood chart app borne out of the author's efforts in coming to grips with bipolar disorder. They are working on a version for clinicians to help them collaborate closely with their clients who use the mood charting app.
Life Charting for Patients mood charting tools offered by Bipolar Network News.
Free online mood chart tool developed by a young man diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
"Manic-Depressive Illness and Creativity" by Kay Redfield Jamison.
Kay Redfield Jamison's list of famous people with bipolar disorder from the appendix of her book, "Touched With Fire" (extended to include famous living bipolars).
"Bipolar and creativity—is there a link?" award-winning journalist Stacie Zoe Berg examines the evidence for a link in an article published in BP Magazine.
"Why a touch of madness boosts creativity" a review of Dr. Anthony Storr's presentation to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK.
A brief summary of creativity studies.
BP Magazine, a quarterly healthy living magazine for those with bipolar disorder, contains in-depth features on personalities, articles on cutting-edge issues, and down-to-earth coping suggestions.
Teaching Wellness, a review of recent research on the benefits of teaching illness self-management for bipolar disorder.
The Infinite Mind an archive of weekly radio programs focusing on the human mind, spirit, and mental health. (Sadly the podcasts are not longer free.)
If you are thinking of suicide, read this first.
In the USA call 988 (previously 1-800-273-8255) and your call will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area.
Call 1-800-SUICIDE (in the USA) and your call will be answered by the nearest crisis center.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers a lot of support, resources and information regarding suicide, its prevention and aid for those affected.
thehopeline.com has an excellent article on what to do if you feel suicidal.
suicideispreventable.org offers information on recognizing the signs of suicide, knowing what to say to someone in crisis and finding help.
White Sands has a good series of articles on suicide prevention and recognizing the warning signs.
ReachOut.com—mental health education for the 14-24 age group.
Online MFT Programs offers a comprehensive guide to suicide prevention resources available.
Choice Mutual, an insurance agency, has an excellent page of resources on suicide behavior and prevention.
Befrienders International information and directories of helplines worldwide.
Helpguide.org has a detailed article on suicide prevention including warning signs and how to help.