Resources

Documentaries about mental illness Show Hide

Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia http://www.unlistedfilm.com – (2009) Documentary about a woman who hid from her paranoid schizophrenic father for 10 years and is trying to bring him back into her life.
No Kidding?!! Me, Too! http://www.nkm2.org (2009) Documentary by the actor, Joe Pantoliano, about his own mental illness, and a range of other psychiatric disorders
Take These Broken Wings – Recovery from schizophrenia without medication http://www.iraresoul.com/dvd.html (2008)
Documentary by director and psychotherapist Daniel Mackler, The film centers on the lives of two women who recovered from severe schizophrenia, without medication. The film traces the roots of their schizophrenia to childhood trauma and details their successful psychotherapy with gifted clinicians. The first woman is Joanne Greenberg (fully recovered for fifty years), the bestselling author of I Never Promised You A Rose Garden. The second is Catherine Penney (fully recovered for thirty years), a mental health nurse in California whose healing tale was chronicled by her therapist, Daniel Dorman, MD, in the book Dante's Cure: A Journey Out of Madness.
Inside/Outside: Building a Meaningful Life Outside of the Hospital http://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/4391.htm (2004) Documentary that tracks 8 people who have a history of being institutionalized as they transition from nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals into the community. The film carries the message that recovery and life in the community are possibilities even for people who are viewed as the most chronic or impaired.
In the Realms of the Unreal http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390123 (2004) Documentary of the life of artist and novelist, Henry Darger, who dealt with Aspergers.

Feature films about mental illness Show Hide

Temple Grandin http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469 (2010) – Biopic of Temple Grandin, PhD, a woman who deals with Aspergers and has worked as a scientist and inventor to improve standards in contemporary animal husbandry.
The Soloist http://www.soloistmovie.com (2009) An LA Times journalist befriends a homeless, mentally ill Julliard-trained musician, and they form a fascinating relationship.
A Beautiful Mind http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268978 (2001) A biopic of the meteoric rise of John Forbes Nash Jr., a math prodigy and how he overcame years of suffering with schizophrenia to win a Nobel Prize.
Girl Interrupted http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172493 (1999) Based on writer Susanna Kaysen's account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s
Shine http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117631/ (1996) Based on the true story of Australian pianist David Helfgott, this movie charts the early and traumatic early years. Driven by his father and teachers, he has a breakdown, and spends time in an institution. Years later he returns to the piano, and performs in a concert hall.
One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073486 (1975) McMurphy thinks he can get out of doing work while in prison by pretending to be mad. His plan backfires when he is sent to a mental asylum. He tries to liven the place up a bit by playing card games and basketball with his fellow inmates, but the head nurse is after him at every turn.

Mental Health resources

If you want help in the form of either outpatient services, general support, or residential services and you're on the West Coast, call our Clinical Director, Jim Piekarski, for a free phone consultation at 805-965-3434

Resources for family members of those with mental illness Show Hide

www.nami.org (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
http://www.iapsrs.org (International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services) - education about advocacy and social integration
http://www.suicide.org - site for immediate help. Also has information and support for people who are suicidal and their loved ones, as well as a forum for survivors.

Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression Show Hide

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) –information about mood disorders, has an online support group and can help locate a local support group.
http://www.nami.org/Content/Microsites254/NAMI_Tuscarawas-Carroll_Co_/Home239/Resources132/bipolar.pdf (National Alliance on Mental Illness) information about diagnosing, understanding and finding treatment for Bipolar Disorder.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml (National Institute of Mental Health) information and support for people dealing with Bipolar Disorder, loved ones and caregivers.
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF96B5-1372-4D20-C868380DE081DCAB (Mental Health America) information on mood disorders
http://www.pendulum.org - education and advocacy

Schizophrenia Show Hide

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036 - (National Alliance on Mental Illness) information about mental Schizophrenia.
http://www.sardaa.org (Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America) information and support to people dealing with Schizophrenia
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know (Mental health America) the signs of and possible treatment of Schizophrenia.
http://www.nami.org/Content/Microsites213/NAMI_Of_Franklin_County/Home199/About_Mental_Illnesses/Schizophrenia2.pdf (National Alliance on Mental Illness) symptoms of and types of schizophrenia and talks about treatment options
http://www.rethink.org/rethink_for_everyon.html (The National Schizophrenia Fellowship) Based in the UK, information and support to people with mental illness
http://www.schizophrenia.ca/heimEnglish1.htm (Schizophrenia Society of Canada) education, advocacy, and resources
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=7 information
http://mss.mb.ca/mss_v1 (Manitoba Schizophrenia Society) information

Depression Show Hide

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-index.shtml - (National Institute of Mental Health) addresses questions about and issues surrounding Depression
http://www.familyaware.org (Families for Depression Awareness) provides information about Depression and Depressive Disorders and support.
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/MajorDepression.pdf (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers insight into the causes and signs of Depression and possible treatment options
http://www.nmha.org/go/depression (Mental Health America) information for people suffering from Depression and their loved ones
http://www.afsp.org (American Association for Suicide Prevention) offers help to people with suicidal tendencies and to their loved ones. This site also has a forum for survivors of suicide.
http://www.1on1health.com/web/info/depression/english/home/Topic-Home (Depression 1 on 1) education and information about communication
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html (Dr. Ivan's Depression Central) information and links
http://www.healthieryou.com/mhexpert/consumer.html#Depression list of links to information in the question and answer format on a range of depression issues
http://www.wingofmadness.com (Wing of Madness Depression Guide) information and links

Anxiety and Panic Disorder Show Hide

http://www.adaa.org (Anxiety Disorder Association of America) information on Anxiety Disorders and treatment
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Illnesses/Anxiety_Disorders_in_Children_and_Adolescents.htm (National Alliance on Mental Illness) information about common types of Anxiety Disorders and methods of treatment
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/anxiety-disorders/anxiety-disorders/anxiety-disorders-what-you-need-to-know (Mental Health America) information on the types of Anxiety Disorders, how to treat them
http://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety/panic-disorder.aspx (American Psychological Association) information
http://www.npadnews.com (National Panic and Anxiety Disorder News) information

Addiction Show Hide

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org (Al-Anon/Alateen) support and information for family members of alcoholics
http://www.aa.org/?Media=PlayFlash (Alcoholics Anonymous) – support and information for alcoholics who are looking for help
http://www.adultchildren.org (Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization, Inc) support for adults who grew up in homes dealing with alcoholism. Has an online forum for those who can't attend meetings.
http://www.alcoholscreening.org/Home.aspx - screening for alcholism
http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/index.php (Betty Ford Center) focus on addiction, treatment and recovery
http://www.cdc.gov (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drug_info.asp (Center for Substance Abuse Research)
http://www.cspinet.org (Center for Science in the Public Interest) links
http://www.ca.org (Cocaine Anonymous) support and information for people dealing with cocaine addiction
http://www.cadca.org (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) education
http://www.drugstrategies.org - drug treatment and rehabilitation programs, information and addiction treatment centers for recovery
http://www.eapassn.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1 (Employee Assistance Professionals Association) for employers, counselors, social workers
http://www.faceproject.org (Facing Alcohol Concerns through Education) education
http://www.interventioninfo.org/ (Intervention Resource Center) helps substance abusers and their families through referrals and education
http://www.jointogether.org – screening and up to date information
http://monitoringthefuture.org – reports the changes in beliefs and attitudes of the American youth
http://www.madd.org (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) education
http://www.thirteen.org/closetohome - Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home. Journalist Bill Moyers looks at addiction and recovery in America.
http://www.wsoinc.com (Narcotics Anonymous) support and information for people recovering from addiction
http://www.ncadd.org (National Council on alcoholism and Drug Dependence) provides education and advocates for prevention, intervention and treatment
http://www.naadac.org (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors) site for addiction professionals
http://www.nacoa.net (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) support and information for families affected by alcoholism and drug abuse
http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/Home.aspx?articleid=287&zoneid=32 (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Colombia University) education and relevant, up to date articles
http://store.samhsa.gov/home (National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information) education, tips and books
http://www.hispanichealth.org (National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Service Organizations) information and resources
http://www.nationalfamilies.org (National Families in Action) for families and parents, information on prevention
http://www.inhalants.org (National Inhalant Prevention Coalition) education
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) education for health care providers and the layperson
http://www.nida.nih.gov/nidahome.html (National Institute of Drug Abuse) education for everyone from young adults to health care professionals
http://www.nofas.org (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) advocacy and information on family planning
http://www.healthywomen.org (National Women's Resource Center) provides information for women regarding all aspects of physical and mental well being.
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov – information on prevention, treatment and recovery
http://www.parentingisprevention.org (Parenting is Prevention Project) support and education for parents
http://www.sbcada.org (Santa Barbara Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse) focus on prevention, intervention, relapse prevention and advocacy
http://www.ccsa.ca/Pages/Splash.htm (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse) information
http://www.smartrecovery.org (Smart Recovery) online meetings, face-to-face meetings and a message board to help people who are dealing with addiction to cope with urges and maintain motivation.
http://www.doubletroubleinrecovery.org – (Double Trouble in Recovery) support for people with an addiction as well as a mental illness.

Eating disorders Show Hide

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org (National Eating Disorders Association) support for people with eating disorders and their families and lists resources.
http://www.something-fishy.org – information about eating disorders and recovering from them
http://www.aedweb.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&WebsiteKey=9791323d-3be5-4379-ac55-d98e6efdd036 (Academy for Eating Disorders) information about eating disorders
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa.shtml - (National Institute of Mental Health) information to help identify eating disorders as well as risk involved and treatment options
http://www.renfrew.org (Renfrew Center Foundation) information, resources
http://www.innersolutions.net (Inner Solutions) information, support, and forum to discuss food and weight issues

PTSD Show Hide

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-easy-to-read/index.shtml (National Institute of Mental Health) information
http://www.ptsdinfo.org –provides information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=68642 (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, how to identify it and options for treating it.
http://www.healing-arts.org/tir/n-r-rothschild.htm - information and references

Personality Disorders, such as Borderline Show Hide

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=44780 (National Alliance on Mental Illness) information, symptoms and treatment options
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.borderline.html links with information about Borderline Personality Disorder
http://www.bpdcentral.com/index.php information and support for people dealing with Borderline Personality Disorder and their loved ones
http://www.aaets.org/arts/art20.htm (The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress) information
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder-fact-sheet/index.shtml (National Institute of Mental Health) information, symptoms and treatment
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/symptoms-of-borderline-personality-disorder (Psych Central) information about causes, diagnosis, and treatment
http://www.bpdworld.org (Borderline Personality Disorder World) resources, support and information. Also has forums for people dealing with mental illness.
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=8 – information about personality disorders and links referencing specific personality disorders
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=8 (Mental Health America) information about identifying a personality disorder and treatment information

Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder) Show Hide

http://www.dissociation.com - information for people dealing with multiple personality disorder and their families
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_%28formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder%29.html (National Alliance on Mental Illness) causes and symptoms of Dissociative Disorders and treatment options
http://www.nmha.org/go/dissociation (Mental Health America) information
http://www.dissociativeidentitydisorder.net - information about rick factors, causes, symptoms and possible treatment
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=26975 (National Alliance on mental Illness) information to identify dissociative disorders and treatment information

General information resources on mental health Show Hide

http://artausa.org (American Residential Treatment Association) listing of various homes that provide residential mental health treatment.
http://athealth.com – offers information to people dealing with mental health issues and their families. Listing local physicians to answer questions people may have while they are exploring the website.
http://casra.org (California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies) education about advocacy and social integration.
http://www.dmh.ca.gov (Department of Mental Health) a state government run site offering information about legal rights and facilities available in California.
http://findthelight.net (Find the Light) support and resources for people suffering from mood disorders and substance abuse.
http://www.healthyplace.com – lists various agencies and phone numbers for people with mental illness.
http://www.mentalearth.com/– forums for people over 18 who are dealing with mental illness. This site has live chat and blogging and offers forums where adults can discuss different topics openly.
http://www.mental-health-matters.com (Mental Health Matters) offers support to people dealing with mental health and/or addiction and their families
http://www.mentalhelp.net - information about and resources for mental health and addiction issues. Has a forum.
http://www.mhac.org (The Mental Health Association in California) provides information about local legislation, support groups, and advocacy
http://mhavillage.org (Mental Health America of Los Angeles) education, support and resources
http://nami.org (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) information on mental illness as well as medication, centers for support and education.
http://www.narsad.org (The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) information regarding various mental health disorders.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml (National Institute of Mental Health) information to help identify various mental health disorders as well as how they are normally treated.
http://nmha.org (Mental Health America) national and local resources and information on mental health and addiction.
http://www.samhsa.gov (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) resources for mental illness and addiction prevention and treatment
http://suicidology.org – (American Association of Suicidology) –support to people who are suicidal and their friends and family

Mental health Support Group Mailing List Index

http://psychcentral.com/resources - mailing list for abuse, anxiety, divorce and other areas

Articles Show Hide

http://www.mhavillage.org/Web%20Articles/3hopeand%20schizophrenia.pdf – this article puts hope and schizophrenia together.
http://www.power2u.org/articles/recovery/people_can.html (The National Empowerment Center) People can Recover from Mental Illness - By Daniel Fisher, M.D., Ph.D. and Laurie Ahern – This article sheds talks about recovering from even the most severe mental illness and the emotional healing that is needed after dealing with mental illness.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/creative-minds-the-links-between-mental-illness-and-creativity-1678929.html Creative Minds: the Link between Mental Illness and Creativity – By Roger Dobson
http://www.maramcwilliams.com/articles/2005-07_art_therapy.php Using Art Therapy Good for Mental Health – By Mara McWilliams

Books Show Hide

The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller, Amanda Bennett, Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (January 1, 1996) - An enlightening memoir of a woman's experience with schizophrenia.
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn R. Saks, Hyperion; Reprint edition (August 12, 2008) - A great memoir of a woman with schizophrenia. Her life demonstrates how high functioning a person can be with this illness.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Second Edition by Carlos W. Pratt, Kenneth J. Gill, Nora M. Barrett, Melissa M. Roberts Academic Press ( 2002) Good introduction to psychosocial rehabilitation. Introduces the experience of psychiatric disorders from the client's perspective, covers symptoms and etiology of severe and persistent mental illness as well as treatment strategies. The book is simply written, using case illustrations; considered an excellent college textbook.
Schizophrenia: Cognitive Theory, Research, and Therapy by Aaron T. Beck, Neil A. Rector, Neal Stolar, Paul Grant The Guilford Press; 1 edition (October 29, 2008) This is a book our staff uses at Phoenix of Santa Barbara to help clients question their voices and their distorted thinking. It is aimed for the professional. There are numerous studies, particularly in England, showing that this type of therapy can be helpful for delusions and hallucinations.
The Feeling Good Handbook by David D. Burns, Plume; Rev Sub edition (May 1, 1999) An excellent book that reviews the basic techniques to overcome depression and anxiety.
Reinventing Your Life: The Breakthough Program to End Negative Behavior...and Feel Great Again by Jeffrey E. Young Janet S. Klosko, Aaron T. Beck (Foreword), Plume; First Edition (May 1, 1994) A powerful self-help book. If you have read many self-help books and think that you can't learn much more, pick this one up and be surprised.
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison, Vintage; 1 edition (January 14, 1997) An excellent memoir of a woman with bipolar disorder.