Mental Health Resource Directory

There are a huge number of mental health resources available online whether you’re looking for websites or apps.  Many of them are free, and many of them are high quality, but sometimes the biggest challenge can be finding what’s most useful and relevant to you. This mental health resource directory pulls together some of the best that I’ve come across.  Please let me know what your favourites are, and what I should add to the list.

You might also find the following resources on MH@H helpful:

• The Psychology Corner: includes a collection of scientifically validated psychological tests
• The Role of Peer Support in Mental Health
• Understanding Mental Health Provider Credentials: You’re looking for a therapist, and they’ve got various initials after their names — what do they mean?
• Ways to share your mental health story: list of mental health sites that accept guest submissions

Mental Health Websites

• Healthy Place: has a broad range of mental health info; founded by mental health advocate Natasha Tracy
• HelpGuide: an ad-free site operated by a non-profit organization dedicated to a woman who lost her life by suicide
• Here to Help [Canada]: mental health info, workbooks, wellness modules, and family resource, as well as a toolkit on dealing with psychosis

• Mental Health America: has info on mental health conditions, screening tools, and other mental health-related tools
• Mental Health First Aid: US site – Canadian site – UK site
• Mental Health Foundation [UK]: info on a wide range of conditions
• Merck Manual: info about mental disorders and treatment options
• Mind [UK]: info on a wide range of conditions

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): a wide range of resources

• PositivePsychology.com: info on a variety of mental illnesses and psychology topics, as well as therapy-related resources
• Psych Central: covers a broad spectrum of mental health and psychology topics
• PsychReg: has articles on mental health by professionals as well as personal mental health stories

• Rethink Mental Illness [UK]: info on a wide range of conditions

• SANE [UK]: info on a wide range of conditions

• The Mighty: an online community for people with mental illness and other chronic illnesses

Medications

• Epocrates: this app is targeted at health professionals, so it uses technical terminology, but it’s an information goldmine
• Medline Plus: operated by the National Library of Medicine
• NAMI mental health medication info and tips on getting help paying for medications (in the U.S.)
• National Institute of Mental Health Mental health medications booklet (this is from 2008, but it still gives a good overview)
• RxList.com: gives details on how often side effects occur with drug vs. placebo

Professional/Government Sites

A quick note about WebMD—they’re not as authoritative as they might seem to be, and there are other sources that will give you a clearer picture when it comes to mental illness.

• American Psychiatric Association: has info about various psychiatric disorders that’s geared towards patients and families
• Massachusetts General Hospital: webinars aimed at patients and families on topics including depression, psychotherapy, and schizophrenia
• Mentalhealth.gov: contains a collection of mental health information from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Heallh Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Youth.gov
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): general mental health info
• Royal College of Psychiatrists [UK]: info on mental health conditions

Specific Disorders

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Clinical Trials

Research findings drive innovation and evidence-based practice. If you’re interested in being a participant in clinical trials, you can find available opportunities here:

• Be Part of Research: this site from the National Institute for Health Research has info about clinical trials in the UK
• CenterWatch: worldwide clinical trials listings
• Clinical Trials Ontario: info for Ontario as well as other Canadian provinces
• ClinicalTrials.gov: this American site has info on trials going on around the world
• MQ: Transforming Mental Health Through Research
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): has details on clinical trials related to mental health that are recruiting participants

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These mental health apps are either free or have a substantial amount of free content in addition to premium content.  They’re available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play unless otherwise specified.

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Meditation & Mindfulness Resources

• Guided self-compassion meditations from Dr. Kristin Neff
• Mindfulness Exercises
• Mindful magazine
• The Free Mindfulness Project
• UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center

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• Action For Happiness: Ten Keys For Happier Living guidebook and monthly calendars suggesting wellness-promoting activities for each day of the month
• Greater Good Magazine: this site from UC Berkeley has a variety of articles and quizzes related to different aspects of wellbeing
• Here to Help: this Canadian site has a variety of wellness modules
• Passion Planner: downloadable journal pages
• Recovery College from Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary: offers free courses led by peer support workers on a variety of topics related to recovery

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Learning new things gives you something purposeful to do, but it’s also the mental equivalent of physical exercise, helping your brain to build new neural connections. Neuroplasticity is a wonderful thing.

TED Talks are a great way to learn new things. For mental health talks, you can check out my picks on the topics of depression & suicide, stigma, trauma, mental illness, and mental wellbeing.

Online courses

Public libraries sometimes offer access to free learning programs, so have a look to see what yours has to offer.

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Brain training apps