The resources listed below are provided to help individuals and their families become better-informed about mental health issues. For information on how to get help in Texas, please visit our page on how to get help for mental health concerns or how to get help for substance abuse problems.
Suicide Prevention Resources
Adult Mental Health Resources
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University
Living Well with a Psychiatric Disability at Work or School provides resources for persons who have a psychiatric condition and are working, at school, or reentering the workplace. The resource page has a wealth of information that is disorder-specific for individuals with mental illness and their families.
DBSA - Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
Marked by changes in mood, depression and bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) are both highly treatable medical illnesses. Unfortunately, many people don't get the help they need because of the misunderstanding surrounding the illnesses or the fear associated with stigma. dbsalliance.org includes brief descriptions of depression and bipolar disorder as well as more in-depth information.
Help Starts Here
Mental illness and severe emotional stress affect millions of Americans, and far too often, many problems go untreated. They don’t have to – because help starts here with information about a variety of mental illnesses. helpstartshere.org is sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers.
National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH)
The NIMH publications webpage provides access to a broad array of publications that relate to the treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA brings the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction by providing strategic support and conducting research across a broad range of disciplines to significantly improve prevention, treatment and policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
nami.org provides information about mental illnesses, medications, NAMI programs, and support. The site includes a search feature to find your local NAMI affiliate.
National Empowerment Center
The mission of the National Empowerment Center Inc. is to carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to people who have been labeled with mental illness. We carry that message with authority because we are a consumer/survivor/expatient-run organization and each of us is living a personal journey of recovery and empowerment.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) ADS Center
The ADS Center helps to promote acceptance, dignity, and social inclusion.
Via HOPE sponsored by Mental Health America
- The Community Education Center provides interactive online courses on a variety of topics related to mental health. There is no charge for taking the courses.
- WRAP is a self-designed plan for staying well, and for helping you to feel better when you are not feeling well, to increase personal responsibility and control over your own life, and help you make your life the way you want it to be.
Resources for Children and Adolescents with Behavior and Emotional Disturbances
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
AACAP provides approximately 100 "Facts for Families" are provided in English, Spanish, Malaysian, Polish, Icelandic, Arabic, Urdu and Hebrew. There is a keyword search option (e.g., type in depression or autism) or the "Facts for Families" can be viewed in alphabetical or numerical order.
Help Starts Here
helpstartshere.org provides basic information in the following categories: Kids & Families, Mind & Spirit, Health & Wellness, Seniors & Aging, and Issues & Answers. The site provides definitions, personal stories, professional advice, and recent articles on related topics. If desired, it can connect you with a social work resource in your community. The website is sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers.
Mayo Clinic
Clinical experts provide current medical information and news on health topics such as diseases and conditions, symptoms checker, drugs and supplements, and tests and pocedures at mayoclinic.com.
New York University Child Study Center The NYU Child Study Center site provides numerous links for families and professionals are available, including condition-specific handouts and fact sheets.
Oasis @ MAAP
aspergersyndrome.org addresses developmental and childhood disorders. Asperger Syndrome, Autism, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Not Otherwise Specified (PDD/NOS). This site provides articles, educational resources, links to local, national and international support groups, sources of professional help, lists of camps and schools, conference information, recommended reading, and moderated support message boards.
Psychotropic Medication Utilization Parameters for Foster Children
In February of 2005, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) released a "best practices" guide to ensure the proper use of psychotropic medications for the children in foster care.
The Reach Institute
This site provides an overview of psychiatric medications used for children and adolescents.
Texas Child Study Center
A searchable Children’s Health Encyclopedia from Dell Children’s Hospital including information on neurological disorders and mental health disorders.
Via HOPE
The Via HOPE site provides information about childhood mental health disorders and illnesses, their causes, as well as diagnostic criteria.
Child Abuse Prevention
The resources listed below are provided to help individuals and their families prevent child abuse.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes Child Abuse: What Every Parent Should Know and What to Know about Child Abuse, which provide detailed information about recognizing the signs and symptoms of child abuse. The page on Disciplining Your Child provides parenting strategies, and the Disobedient Child page gives parents tips for working with oppositional behavior.
The Department of Family and Protective Services
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) offers a number of resources on Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect, How to Recognize Child Abuse, Parenting Tip Posters, and Parenting Topics.
Early Childhood Violence Prevention
Kid Source Online is a parent-focused resource. The Early Childhood Violence Prevention page provides tips to parents and teachers.
The National Center for Victims of Crime
The National Center for Victims of Crime provides services and resources to victims of crime across the country. The Get Help Bulletin provides information about how to identify and help youths who may be victimized. The Getting Help Teen Tools suggests ways to ask for assistance.
The National Council on Child abuse and Family Violence
The National Council on Child abuse and Family Violence provides prevention services to the community. The Child Abuse Information page has information about how to recognize the signs of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children, as well as neglect.
Prevent Child Abuse Texas
Prevent Child Abuse Texas is statewide non-profit organization working to prevent child abuse and neglect in all its forms throughout Texas. Prevent Child Abuse Texas offers fact sheets on recognizing the signs and symptoms of Child Abuse, Quick Tips for Parents, and Teaching Children Discipline.
General Resources
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Mental Health Work Group section of the CDC site includes information about mental health treatment, data & statistics, publications, and prevention of mental illness.
- MedlinePlus
The National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus website provides information for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, the site features access to information about diseases, conditions, medications, and wellness issues in English, Spanish and many other languages as well as information about the latest treatments, information on a drug or supplement, the meanings of words, or medical videos or illustrations for viewing. It also provides links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition.