May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Lamb Behavioral Health Center purposely does not recognize specific months or causes, but we’ll make an exception for Mental Health Awareness! As you would expect, this topic is dear to my heart as it is the chosen profession for everyone at LBHC.

Why is Mental Health Awareness important? According to Mental Health America, nearly 1 in 5 Americans have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year. Approximately 46% of Americans will meet criteria for a mental health condition at some point in their life. Half of these people develop the condition by age 14. These statistics indicate just how many people have or will experience mental health issues. Learning about mental health can be helpful for you as well as your family members, friends, and coworkers.

Mental Health Awareness – Helpful Websites

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I would like to list a few mental health websites and organizations. Please note that these resources are listed in no particular order and are for informational purposes only. While I have found helpful offerings from these organizations, I do not agree with everything they promote. I cannot vouch for everything they produce, nor am I fully aware of all their stances on various issues or their histories.

Mental Health America

Mental Health America (MHA) self-reports as the largest leading nonprofit for mental health and well-being. I like that it covers many mental health topics including information about various disorders, suicide, and self-harm. MHA provides education on various treatment options for these mental health conditions. This website also hosts free online screening measures for multiple disorders. These screenings are unique for their confidentiality as they do not require an email address to view results. For example, if you took the depression screener and reported you felt like harming yourself all the time, it will give you a message strongly suggesting you call a hotline, but nothing else happens.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) self-reports as the largest “grass-roots” mental health organization for individuals affected by mental illness. I like that this organization offers both in-person and online support groups for individuals with mental illness as well as their families. This can be particularly helpful for parents of adults with severe mental illness, who can often feel isolated in their experiences.

Psych Central

Psych Central offers resources about many different mental health topics. The information this website provides includes disorder-specific information and topics about daily life. For example, I found a quick article on how to manage a breakup using CBT methods.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the purpose of advancing behavioral health. This website focuses more on a professional audience, but it offers information and resources on a wide range of behavioral health topics, such as coping with disasters, substance use disorders, or issues faced by those on Medicaid/Medicare. SAMHSA also provides national data on mental health shortage areas and inpatient and residential placement availability.

National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is the first of the issue-specific organizations I mention. This website offers recommendations for different age groups facing various sleep challenges. The educational resources on this site have helped my patients with insomnia and narcolepsy.

Anxiety & Depression Association of America

The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) focuses on helping with anxiety, depression, and associated disorders, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I like that the information is presented in an accessible manner for professionals and the public alike. Some patients may enjoy reading the site’s positive real-life stories from individuals who have experienced similar struggles.

ADDitude Magazine

ADDitude Magazine is an online magazine devoted to ADHD in both children and adults. This resource is considered a premier website for ADHD, as it is run by some of the larger names in the field. I like that the magazine strives to make current research accessible to individuals who don’t like/understand typical research articles. This website consistently includes articles with various recommendations for individuals with ADHD, including topics I hadn’t even thought of. For example, they published a list of articles specifically about women for Women’s Health Month (also in May) ranging in topics from ADHD symptoms in women to perimenopause and ADHD.

Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks has long been considered a leading website for Autism. I like that is has a lot of good information about autism and autism awareness. They try to build a community for people with autism and their loved ones. You can find very helpful information. Choose “Help & Information” and then select either “Information by Topic” or “Resource Guide.” You can also obtain cool stickers and other resources that promote autism acceptance.

Self-Compassion Institute with Dr. Kristin Neff

The Self-Compassion Institute purely devotes itself to the practice of self-compassion. I like the ease of navigating the website to find the information I need. I also love that the site includes practice resources in addition to informational articles. For example, if you click on “Free Practice Resources,” you will find multiple guided practices in audio or video files. You can also download these files for offline use.

Mental Health Awareness: Conclusion

I am glad that mental health awareness has grown to the point that we have a Mental Health Awareness month. We have come a long way toward acceptance in the past several decades. Individuals and their loved ones now have many more resources at their fingertips than ever before. I hope you find these resources helpful for you or your loved ones. If you would like more help, please feel free to contact our office.

If you found this post helpful, please share it with a friend! Thank you!

Post written by Dr. Gordon D. Lamb, Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Director

Please note posts are educational in nature and are not intended to replace psychological services when needed.