The organizations below offer online support in the form of chat rooms, forums, online meetings and phone in support groups and meetings. Although these resources can provide valuable support, please do not consider information on these sites to be completely factual.
Crisis Lines offer one-on-one support and advice in times of crisis. National suicide prevention hotlines are 800.273.8255 or 800.784.2433. For Spanish speakers, call 888.628.9454. The Crisis Text Line is 741-741. County crisis lines can also be helpful (see e.g. https://namimainlinepa.org/crisis-numbers)
Child and Family Connections offers online and telephone parent support group for parents who have a mental illness. www.childfamilyconnections.org
Depression and Bipolar Support offers online support groups 3 days a week for people with mood disorders. www.dbsalliance.org
Depression Forums is a website and bulletin board with information, links, live chat and more for people who have mood disorders. www.depressionforums.org
Depression Understood offers forums and chatrooms for people with depression www.depression-understood.org
GovTeen is a forum for and by teens with mental health problems and other topics. www.govteen.org
GriefNet offers dozens of email support groups for adults and children. www.griefnet.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness offers discussion groups and a blog for people with mental illness and family members. www.nami.org
OK2Talk is an online blog for teens and youth to share their feelings about mental illness. www.ok2talk.org
Psych Central Community Connection offers many different online forums related to mental health. http://forums.psychcentral.com/
ReachOut Sponsored by SAMHSA and Inspire USA Foundation, reachout.com is a teen site with facts, real stories, support and forums. www.reachout.com
Recovery International offers telephone and online meetings as well as online forums www.recoveryinternational.org
Survivors of Incest Anonymous offers on-line and phone meetings for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse www.siawso.org
Warm Lines offered by counties provide one-on-one support (see e.g https://namimainlinepa.org/services-in-sepa-2/intro-to-services/help-lines-and-warm-lines/ ). Nationally, NAMI offers information, referrals and support through their helpline (1.800.950.NAMI or info@nami.org; https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine).
Crisis Lines offer one-on-one support and advice in times of crisis. National suicide prevention hotlines are 800.273.8255 or 800.784.2433. For Spanish speakers, call 888.628.9454. The Crisis Text Line is 741-741. County crisis lines can also be helpful (see e.g. https://namimainlinepa.org/crisis-numbers)
Depression Forums is a website and bulletin board with information, links, live chat and more for people who have mood disorders. www.depressionforums.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness offers discussion groups and a blog for people with mental illness and family members. www.nami.org
Psych Central Community Connection offers many different online forums related to mental health. http://forums.psychcentral.com/
Warm Lines offered by counties provide one-on-one support (see e.g https://namimainlinepa.org/services-in-sepa-2/intro-to-services/help-lines-and-warm-lines/ ). Nationally, NAMI offers information, referrals and support through their helpline (1.800.950.NAMI or info@nami.org; https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine).
Specialized Support Group Resources Include:
American Association of Retired Persons Grief and Loss Information
American Association of Suicidology: Support for family/friends that have lost a loved one to suicide
Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Anxiety and Depression Association of America peer-to-peer support group
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) In addition to support groups, CHADD has a section for parents which includes many helpful resources (look at the list of options on the right-hand side of the page) and a link that explains their Parent to Parent Family Training classes. For more information about these on-line training classes, review the information at the link we've provided or contact the CHADD national resource center at 1-800-233-4050.
Co-Dependents Anonymous or sign up for their email list. You can also visit http://www.codependents.org/
The Compassionate Friends Grief Support: After the death of a child (Use this link to find groups in your area)
CoSLAA Support groups for family and friends of people who have a sex addiction
Dual Diagnosis of Oregon, Inc. (Although based in Oregon, offer support to those in other areas who wish to establish groups to help those who have both a mental health and alcohol/substance abuse condition)
Dual Recovery Anonymous: Support for those who have both a mental health and alcohol/substance abuse condition
Emotions Anonymous: Modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program, Emotions Anonymous is open to any individual dealing with emotional difficulties.
Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, a parent support and advocacy network
Freedom from Fear (In addition to finding support groups, you can use the Finding Help/Resources tab on the left-hand side to access on-line support, e-mail support, and blogs)
Gift from Within: Article for partners (Support for both men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder. Use the Trauma Support tab at the top of the page to access a wide variety of support options.)
Hospice Foundation of America (Grief and Loss section includes a link to find a local hospice office using the link from the left-hand side of the page; many offices offer grief support groups. National hospice office can be reached by calling 1-800-868-5171.)
International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
Male Survivor (Discussion board and chat room for men who have been sexually abused can be accessed from Survivors tab on the left-hand side of the page)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): A family support and advocacy organization
O.A.S.I.S.@MAAP (Autism and Asperger Syndrome support group information for both individuals and their family/friends; Support groups tab accessible from the left-hand side of the page)
Overeaters Anonymous Offer in-person, telephone, and online meetings
Postpartum Support International and link to support resources in your area (National 24-hour Postpartum Depression Helpline 1.800.944.4PPD)
S-Anon International Family Groups Support groups for family and friends of people who have a sex addiction
Sex Addicts Anonymous (description of organization) and find a meeting link http://www.sexaa.org/Meetings/UnitedStates/
Sidran Institute (Extensive information and resources on PTSD, dissociative disorder, trauma, and self-injury; e-mail or call 1-888-825-8249 to request support group information)
Survivors of Incest Anonymous (Use the SIA Groups and Intergroups options on the left-hand side of the home page to find meeting information)
The Arc (Support and information for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families) To find a chapter near click here.
TARA Association for Personality Disorder: National Borderline Personality Disorder Resource and Referral Center
Well Spouse Association Support for spousal caregivers.
Witness Justice (Information, resources, and on-line support for victims of violence or trauma, their family and friends, and professionals)
Other Helpful Resources Include:
American Association of Caregiving Youth gives support to individuals under 18 years of age who are caregivers.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has chapters around the country and offers a variety of information and support resources for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
ATTACh at 866-453-8224 (Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children)
Behavioral Tech, LLC (Information and resources for people with borderline personality disorder and their friends and family)
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly known as NARSAD, has information about schizophrenia and depression for individuals and their families)
Cause USA Comfort for America's Uniformed Services (help for those wounded in military service)
Families for Depression Awareness (Information about depression and bipolar disorder including how to help someone who is depressed seek treatment and manage treatment, information for friends and family members about taking care of themselves, downloadable Wellness Guides, as well as free brochures including "Helping Someone Who Is Depressed")
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation offers information on caregiving, mental health topics relating to older adults, and a Depression Recovery Toolkit.
GLBT National Help Center at 1-888-843-4564 (adults) and 1-800-246-7743 (adolescents) Provides telephone and e-mail peer counseling as well as information and resources.
Hazelden offers a helpful question and answers section for friends and family members who care about someone who has an alcohol or substance abuse problem. They also offer an extensive separate website that focuses on co-occurring disorders (when someone has both a mental health condition and an alcohol or substance abuse condition)
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. JAN's mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, entrepreneurship, and related subjects.
National Center for PTSD offers "Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families of Military Personnel"
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder 914-835-9011
S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Information and resources for help with self-injury)
Self Inflicted Violence (Website includes a link to sample newsletter The Cutting Edge)
Survivors Art Foundation (For trauma survivors)
U.S. Vets (A non-profit organization that helps homeless veterans access mental health and substance abuse services along with housing and other community supports to achieve successful reintegration into the community.)
Yellow Ribbon offers information and resources about suicide prevention for teens, parents, and others. Has chapters in many states and some other countries as well as support resources for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Child-Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) Assists both child and adult survivors of abuse, including sexual abuse. The hotline, staffed by mental health professionals, also provides treatment referrals.
Covenant House Nineline at 1-800-999-9999 Crisis counselors are available to talk to homeless individuals and at-risk kids; they also offer an online forum.
Boys Town at 1-800-448-3000 Crisis, resource, and referral line that assists both teens and parents
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) connects you with a 24-hour crisis center
SAMHSA's Treatment Locator at 1-800-662-4357 provides you with information about local mental health services.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Division of Student Affairs
907 Floyd Ave, Suite 238
Richmond, VA 23284
Phone: (804) 828-6200
Email: uccounseling@vcu.edu
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