This section includes a number of links to websites in your area and around the
country. It can help put you in touch with self-help, advocacy, and support groups
whose members share your issues and concerns.
Please note that these websites do not reflect any views of Forest Laboratories.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
The AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) is the leading national
professional medical association dedicated to treating and improving the quality
of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by these disorders. It
is a membership-based organization, composed of over 7500 child and adolescent psychiatrists
and other interested physicians. Its members actively research, evaluate, diagnose,
and treat psychiatric disorders and pride themselves on giving direction to and
responding quickly to new developments in addressing the healthcare needs of children
and their families.
JED Foundation
The Jed Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization working to reduce the rate
of suicide and the prevalence of emotional distress among college students. The
Jed Foundation's programs are guided by an expert board of mental health professionals
and target students, parents, colleges, the medical community, and the general public.
Mental Health America—Information for Youth and Families
The MHA promotes victory over mental illness and the stigma associated with it through
advocacy, education, research, and service. The website includes information on
the range of mental illnesses and how they affect all age groups, healthcare reform
and the rights of consumers (including parity of mental health benefits with other
health coverage), suicide prevention, and treatment guidelines. Also included are
a confidential online screening test for depression and a list of community support
services. For additional information, access to MHA's Help Desk is also provided.
NAMI—Child and Adolescent Action Center
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is dedicated to improving the lives
of children and adults living with serious mental illnesses and their families.
Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation's voice on mental illness as well as
a national organization that includes affiliates in every state and in over 1100
local communities across the country.
Screening for Mental Health
Screening for Mental Health® (SMH) has developed a new program to address the problem
of self-injury among high school-aged youth. Signs of Self-Injury is the first program
of its kind to teach youth how to recognize the signs of distress, in either themselves
or a friend, and respond effectively using the ACT® approach (Acknowledge, Care,
and Tell). The program is based on the same model that SMH used to develop its widely
used, evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide® prevention program.