Today I’d like to focus on providing some good resources. Many times we have questions, so what is the first thing that comes to mind? Google it! The problem is that there is a lot of information out there, and not all of it is correct or helpful. If someone has a mental health question, they want to know that they are getting good information. Unfortunately, it can be nearly impossible to know if you are looking at researched-backed information or inaccurate (and potentially harmful) information.
If you are looking for good information about a mental health diagnosis, there is a lot of bad information out there. I’d like to introduce a few webpages with some good information. www.mentalhealth.gov is a nice, easy to explore website with some good overview information about different mental health conditions. There is a section that offers support to those who have recently received a mental health diagnosis, their families, and even teachers. Another section shows people how to get help if they need it.
Go to www.mentalhelp.net for another website that offers a ton of information. There is a nice breakdown of different diagnoses, like the previous webpage, but they also have information about other medical conditions, wellness, lifespan development, and healthcare. There is information on addictions and forms of treatment on this site as well.
A great informational site that I frequently reference or use to gather information is www.nami.org. It has helpful articles and blogs, and it offers good education about warning signs of mental health problems, as well as advice on how to get help. NAMI stands for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and at their core, they are all about education.
Another nice informational site is www.psychcentral.com. They have a variety of articles on a wide variety of topics. They have a ton of information, and this website is a good first stop for people hoping to get a good understanding of mental health issues. There are informational articles, to be sure, but there are a lot of stories and anecdotes as well that would also be helpful in finding clarity. I’m going to mention that this site does have quizzes that are designed to help people start to get a better idea if the difficulties they are facing are a sign of a larger mental health problem, but I also feel compelled to say that any results should be taken with a grain of salt. These quizzes are not diagnostic. They should not be used to self-diagnose you or a family member. They should not be used as a replacement for a thorough diagnosis by a doctor or mental health professional. The information can be useful, but people are too complicated to properly diagnose with an internet quiz.
988 is a new emergency phone number, and they are staffed by trained counselors to help people in the middle of a mental health emergency including suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is in the middle of a mental health emergency, substance use crisis, or is suicidal, this is the new number to call for immediate help. Keep in mind that 911 is also still perfectly acceptable to call in case of one of these emergencies as well. In fact, during life-threatening emergencies, 911 is definitely the most appropriate call to make.
If you are looking for good articles or blogs www.psychologytoday.com is a great resource for good information. This website also has a link where people can find a therapist in their area. In the interest of full disclosure, the clinicians at Restorative Solutions Counseling all pay to be listed in this directory. However, people can find many available counselors in their area through this service as well.
If you do go straight to Google with your questions, keep an eye out for sites that are going to give the best information. The Mayo Clinic, respected universities, the Centers for Disease Control, and the American Psychiatric Association will all yield good information. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t look anywhere else because there are plenty of places that put out good quality information, the same way that we strive to do at Restorative Solutions Counseling. Just make sure that you look at sources that are vetted as reliable in addition to information that you find from sources that you don’t know as well.