Additional Mind & Mood Resources

— -- Mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder affect nearly 21 million people in the U.S. in a given year. The size of that statistic shows not only that there are many Americans who can benefit from professional care, but also that you are not alone.

All too often, people with mood disorders are hesitant to discuss their symptoms and seek treatment. Information and support groups provided by clinics, hospitals, academic institutions and advocacy organizations are there for you. Here are links to some online resources selected by our staff or recommended by our contributors.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: The AFSP provides information for both medical professionals and the general public on issues related to suicide causation, prevention, and treatment. The organization also funds research into these areas. If you are in crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline phone number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: The DBSA is a national organization that provides information on depression and bipolar disorder. The Alliance also has a network of support groups across the country.

National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI is a grassroots organization that seeks to help both the people who have mind and mood conditions and their families. The site features many patient- and family-oriented resources including connections to local support groups.

National Institute of Mental Health: The NIMH oversees research on mind and mood conditions in various areas including genetics, diagnostics, and treatment strategies. The NIMH also contains a wealth of information about these conditions and links to others resources including locations/descriptions of ongoing clinical trials.