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How to Get Help

If there is an immediate risk of endangering oneself or others, contact 911or your local emergency number immediately. Inform the operator that you are calling about a mental health crisis. Call your mental health specialist. If you are having suicidal and or homicidal thoughts: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Ask help from your primary care doctor or other health care provider. Reach out to a close friend or relative. Reach out to a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your religious community. If someone you know is in danger of attempting suicide or has made an attempt: Be sure someone stays with that individual Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately If possible and safe, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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How to Get Help

If there is an immediate risk of endangering oneself or others, contact 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Inform the operator that you are calling about a mental health crisis. Call your mental health specialist. If you are having suicidal and or homicidal thoughts: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Ask help from your primary care doctor or other health care provider. Reach out to a close friend or relative. Reach out to a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your religious community. If someone you know is in danger of attempting suicide or has made an attempt: Be sure someone stays with that individual Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately If possible and safe, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.

source: www.nimh.nih.gov

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Support Groups

Many individuals find peer support a helpful tool that can help in their recovery. There are a variety of organizations that offer support groups. Some support groups are peer-led, while others may be led by mental health clinicians.

  • Support groups are offered as a space where peoplemay come together to share stories, experiences, and lives in a way that helps decrease isolation and loneliness. Support groups help us see that there are others who may share similar situations and who in turn may help us get better.

    Support groups are open to all, but they are often focused on specific topics (like depression, family, divorce, grief, etc.). So, finding out the right support group can be helpful. You should feel comfortable in the support group space that you choose, so trying different ones may help you decide the best match.

Your local Mental Health America affiliate is an excellent resource to assist you in finding support groups in your area.

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Group Clearinghouse also maintains a Directory of Consumer-Driven Services which includes peer-run organizations throughout America that offer a variety of supportive services and activities, including peer-run support groups.

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Additional Resources

In addition to the resources listed above, the resources below are divided into Specialized support group resources, Other helpful resources, and National Toll-Free 24-hour hotlines.

• Recovery International
• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Al-Anon/Alateen
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• AlcoholScreening.org
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Association of Retired Persons Grief and Loss Information
• American Association of Suicidology: Support for family/friends that have lost a loved one to suicide
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Anxiety and Depression Association of America peer-to-peer support group
• Attention Deficit Disorder Association
• Autism Society of America
• The Balanced Mind Foundation
• Brain Injury Association of America
• Caregiver Action Network
• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) In addition to support groups, CHADD has a section for parents which includes many helpful resources (look at list of options on right-hand side of the page) and a link that explains their Parent to Parent Family Training classes. For more information about these on-line training classes, review the information at the link we’ve provided or contact the CHADD national resource center at 1-800-233-4050.
• Co-Dependents Anonymous or sign up for their email list. You can also visit http://www.codependents.org/
• The Compassionate Friends Grief Support: After the death of a child (Use this link to find groups in your area)
• CoSLAA Support groups for family and friends of people who have a sex addiction
• Crisis Text Line
• Debtors Anonymous
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
• Dual Diagnosis of Oregon, Inc. (Although based in Oregon, offer support to those in other areas who wish to establish groups to help those who have both a mental health and alcohol/substance abuse condition)
• Dual Recovery Anonymous: Support for those who have both a mental health and alcohol/substance abuse condition
• Emotions Anonymous: Modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program, Emotions Anonymous is open to any individual dealing with emotional difficulties.
• Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, a parent support and advocacy network
• Freedom from Fear (In addition to finding support groups, you can use the Finding Help/Resources tab on left hand side to access on-line support, e-mail support, and blogs)
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gift from Within: Article for partners (Support for both men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder. Use the Trauma Support tab at the top of the page to access a wide variety of support options.)
• Hospice Foundation of America (Grief and Loss section includes link to find a local hospice office using link from left-hand side of the page; many offices offer grief support groups. National hospice office can be reached by calling 1-800-868-5171.)
• International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation
• International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
• Male Survivor (Discussion board and chat room for men who have been sexually abused can be accessed from Survivors tab on left hand side of the page)
• Narcotics Anonymous
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): A family support and advocacy organization
• National Eating Disorders Association
• O.A.S.I.S.@MAAP (Autism and Asperger Syndrome support group information for both individuals and their family/friends; Support groups tab accessible from left-hand side of the page)
• Overeaters Anonymous Offer in-person, telephone, and on-line meetings
• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• Postpartum Support International and link to support resources in your area (National 24-hour Postpartum Depression Helpline 1.800.944.4PPD)
• S-Anon International Family Groups Support groups for family and friends of people who have a sex addiction
• Self Mutilators Anonymous
• Sex Addicts Anonymous (description of organization) and find a meeting link http://www.sexaa.org/Meetings/UnitedStates/
• Sidran Institute (Extensive information and resources on ptsd, dissociative disorder, trauma, and self injury; e-mail or call 1-888-825-8249 to request support group information)
• Survivors of Incest Anonymous (Use the SIA Groups and Intergroups options on the left-hand side of the home page to find meeting information)
• The Arc (Support and information for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families) To find a chapter near click here.
• Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
• TARA Association for Personality Disorder: National Borderline Personality Disorder Resource and Referral Center
• The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
• Well Spouse Association Support for spousal caregivers.
• Witness Justice (Information, resources, and on-line support for victims of violence or trauma, their family and friends, and professionals)

• “After An Attempt” A practical guide developed for individuals who have attempted suicide, their family/friends, and for mental health professionals.
• Air Compassion for Veterans for injured veteran’s ongoing healing process.
• American Association of Caregiving Youth gives support to individuals under 18 years of age who are caregivers.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has chapters around the country and offers a variety of information and support resources for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
• ARCH National Respite Network
• Armed Services YMCA
• ATTACh at 866-453-8224 (Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children)
• Behavioral Tech, LLC (Information and resources for people with borderline personality disorder and their friends and family)
• Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly known as NARSAD, has information about schizophrenia and depression for individuals and their families)
• Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center
• Cause USA Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (help for those wounded in military service)
• Families for Depression Awareness (Information about depression and bipolar disorder including how to help someone who is depressed seek treatment and manage treatment, information for friends and family members about taking care of themselves, downloadable Wellness Guides, as well as free brochures including “Helping Someone Who Is Depressed”)
• Gateway to PTSD Information
• Geriatric Mental Health Foundation offers information on caregiving, mental health topics relating to older adults, and a Depression Recovery Toolkit.
• GLBT National Help Center at 1-888-843-4564 (adults) and 1-800-246-7743 (adolescents) Provides telephone and e-mail peer counseling as well as information and resources.
• Hazelden offers a helpful question and answers section for friends and family members who care about someone who has an alcohol or substance abuse problem. They also offer an extensive separate website that focuses on co-occurring disorders (when someone has both a mental health condition and an alcohol or substance abuse condition)
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. JAN’s mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, entrepreneurship, and related subjects.
• National Center for PTSD offers “Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families of Military Personnel”
• National Center for Trauma Informed Care (NCTIC)
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
• National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder 914-835-9011
• S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Information and resources for help with self injury)
• Schizophrenia.com
• Self Inflicted Violence (Website includes link to sample newsletter The Cutting Edge)
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• Survivors Art Foundation (For trauma survivors)
• U.S. Vets (A non-profit organization that helps homeless veterans access mental health and substance abuse services along with housing and other community supports to achieve successful reintegration into the community.)
• Yellow Ribbon offers information and resources about suicide prevention for teens, parents, and others. Has chapters in many states and some other countries as well as support resources for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

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National Toll-Free 24-Hour Hotlines

•  Child-Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) Assists both child and adult survivors of abuse, including sexual abuse. The hotline, staffed by mental health professionals, also provides treatment referrals.
• Covenant House Nineline at 1-800-999-9999 Crisis counselors are available to talk to homeless individuals and at-risk kids; also offer an on-line forum.
• Boys Town at 1-800-448-3000 Crisis, resource, and referral line that assists both teens and parents
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) connects you with a 24-hour crisis center
• SAMHSA’s Treatment Locator at 1-800-662-4357 provides you with information about local mental health services.

MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes such as increased blood pressure,sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.Persons with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns, and may avoid certain situations out of worry. The symptoms of an anxiety disorder may interfere with daily activities like job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.

Anxiety disorders include the following:

Panic

Palpitation, pounding heart rate, chest pain, fear of losing control, fear of dying, sweating, trembling or shaking.

Acute stress

inability to experience happiness, altered sense of reality, recurrent distressing memories of traumatic events, excessive worrying.

Social Anxiety

Crippling fear of interacting with strangers, fear of situations that will lead to rejection, constantly being critical orjudging oneself,

Specific Phobias

Exaggerated fear or anxiety about a specific object of situation (flying, animals heights, seeing blood), fear of eating in a restaurant, fear of using public bathrooms, fear of talking in public, and places an exaggerated importance in being perfect.

Adjustment Disorder

Increased feelings of hopelessness or sadness, difficulty with activity of daily living, isolating from family and friends, nervousness, worry, jitteriness, tearfulness and separation anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Directly experiencing a traumatic event, learning about a traumatic event(s) that occurred to a family member, recurrent involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty with concentration or mind going blank, palpitation, a choking sensation, headache, diarrhea and /or nausea and problems with sleep.

Agoraphobia

Marked fear and anxiety about using public transportation, being in open spaces such as marketplaces, and parking lots, being in enclosed places, being a crowd, being outside of the home alone, fear of places without an easy exit, dependent on others due to fear of living the house, and fear of dying.

Obsessive Compulsive

Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images experienced as intrusive and unwanted, fear of dirt, repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, ordering, checking, counting, praying, and repeating words silently.

BIPOLAR AND RELATED DISORDERS

Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. There are three kinds of bipolar disorder. All three kinds involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels.These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, irritable, or energized behavior (called manic episodes) to very “down,” sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods (called depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are called hypomanic episodes.

Defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the individual needs immediate hospital care. Typically, depressive episodes occur as well, usually lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features (experiencing depressive symptoms and manic symptoms at the same time) are also possible.Manic episode includes inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decrease need for sleep, more talkative, flight of ideas, reckless and impulsive action such as engaging in unrestrained spending, risk behavior, and sexual indiscretion, distractibility and elevated mood.

Defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes that are typical of Bipolar I Disorder.Low of interest in things, depressed mood, fatigue or low energy, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, crying spells, forgetfulness, recurrent thoughts of death, restlessness or being slowed, increased need for sleep or sleeping difficulty, and thoughts of death or suicide.

Defined by periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode.

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS

Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. Depression causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.For some persons, major depression can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit one’s ability to carry out major life activities.Depression is an illness that can affect anyoneregardless of age, race, income, culture, or education.
Some forms of depression are slightly different, or they may develop under unique circumstances, like:

Depressed mood that lasts for at least two years. An individual diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder.

Much more serious than the “baby blues” (relatively mild depressive and anxiety symptoms that typically clear within two weeks post-delivery) that many women experience after giving birth. Females with postpartum depression experience full-blown major depression during pregnancy or post-delivery (postpartum depression). The feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that accompany postpartum depression may make it difficult for these new mothers to complete daily care activities for themselves and/or for their new born.

when an individual has severe depression and some form of psychosis, such as having disturbing false fixed beliefs (delusions) or hearing or seeing upsetting things that others cannot hear or see (hallucinations). The psychotic symptoms typically have a depressive “theme,” like delusions of guilt, poverty, or illness.

Characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This depression generally lifts during spring and summer. Winter depression, typically accompanied by social withdrawal, increased sleep, and weight gain, predictably returns every year in seasonal affective disorder.
Examples of other types of depressive disorders newly added to the diagnostic classification of DSM-5 include disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (diagnosed in children and adolescents) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly daily, for at least two weeks, you may be experiencing depression:
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in activities of daily living
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Poor appetite or over eating, and or weight changes
• Helplessness hopelessness, guilt, self-criticism, irritability and anger outburst
• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan or with a plan.
• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of worthlessness, or helplessness
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
Not every person who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience multiple. Several persistent symptoms in addition to low mood are required for a diagnosis of major depression, but those with only a few – but distressing – symptoms may benefit from treatment of their “subsyndromal” depression. The severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness. Symptoms may also differ depending on the stage of the illness.

SCHIZOPHRENIA AND OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental disorder characterized by deficits in thought processes, perceptions, and emotional responsiveness.Schizophrenia’s symptoms are usually described as “positive” or “negative.” Positive symptoms are those that are found among individuals with schizophrenia but not present among those who do not have the disorder. These may include delusions, thought disorders, and hallucinations. Individuals with schizophrenia may hear voices other people don’t hear, or believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. Negative symptoms are those found among those who do not have the disorder but that are missing or lacking among individuals with schizophrenia. These may include avolition (a lack of desire or motivation to accomplish goals), lack of desire to form social relationships, and blunted affect and emotion. These symptoms make holding a job, forming relationships, and other day-to-day functions especially difficult for persons with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex disorder that has increasingly been recognized as a collection of several disorders. It has also increasingly been viewed from a developmental perspective, with full psychosis representing a late stage of the disorder, fueling the hope that early, intense interventions may offer greater help to people in the long term.

Additional information on schizophrenia can be found on NIMH’s schizophrenia page.

SUBSTANCE USE AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL DISORDERS

A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects an individual’s brain and behavior, leading to an individual’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms may range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs.

Researchers have noted that about half of individuals who experience a SUD during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa. Co-occurring disorders can include anxiety disorders, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and schizophrenia, etc. For more information, please see the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)’s Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report.

While SUDs and other mental disorders commonly co-occur, that does not mean that one caused the other. Research supports three possibilities that could explain why SUDs and other mental disorders may occur together:
Common risk factors can contribute to both SUDs and other mental disorders. Both SUDs and other mental disorders may run in families, suggesting that certain genes may be a risk factor. Environmental factors, like stress or trauma, may cause genetic changes that are passed down through generations and may contribute to the development of a mental disorder or a substance use disorder.

Substance use and SUDs can contribute to the development of other mental disorders. Substance use may trigger changes in brain structure and function that make an individual more likely to develop a mental disorder.

Alcohol use disorder, Alcohol intoxication, Alcohol withdrawal

Caffeine intoxication, Caffeine withdrawal

Cocaine and Amphetamines. Stimulant use disorder, stimulant intoxication, stimulant withdrawal.

Phencyclidine use disorder, Phencyclidine intoxication

Inhalant use disorder, Inhalant Intoxication

Tobacco use disorder, Tobacco – Related disorder, Tobacco withdrawal

Opioid intoxication, Opioid withdrawal
Sedatives Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic: Acute Intoxication