ORly Radio Show 20 for Friday August 22nd, 2014 - Exploring Mental Health and the DSM

Hosts: Andy and the Usual Suspects: David, Mike, Don, and Ann!
Music: "Rocket and Pamgaea” by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)

What is mental illness?
www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness

A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.

Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder.

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing.

Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.

DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS FIFTH EDITION DSM-5™  published 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association.

Diagnostic Criteria and Codes Section 2 of the DSM

1) Neurodevelopmental Disorders

a group of conditions with onset in the developmental period.

2) Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

defined by ab­normalities in one or more of the following five domains:

delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking (speech), grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior (including catatonia), and negative symptoms. Two  particularly prominent “Negative Symptoms”: diminished emotional expression and avolition.  Avolition is a decrease in motivated self-initiated purposeful activities.

3) Bipolar and Related Disorders

bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder, substance/medication-induced bipolar and related disorder, bipolar and relat­ed disorder due to another medical condition, other specified bipolar and related disor­der, and unspecified bipolar and related disorder.

4) Depressive Disorders (separated from previous section in this edition)

disruptive  mood  dysregulation  disorder,  major depressive disorder (including major depressive episode), persistent depressive disorder

(dysthymia),  premenstrual  dysphoric  disorder,  substance/medication-induced  depres­sive disorder, depressive disorder due to another medical condition, other specified de­pressive disorder, and unspecified  depressive disorder.

5) Anxiety Disorders (Long section, largely situational)

disorders that share features of excessive fear and anxi­ety  and  related  behavioral  disturbances.

Fear is  the  emotional  response  to  real  or  per­ceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future threat.

6) Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

include  obsessive-compulsive disorder  (OCD),  body  dysmorphic  disorder,  hoarding  disorder,  trichotillomania  (hair-pulling disorder), excoriation (skin-picking) disorder, substance/medication-induced ob­sessive-compulsive and related disorder, obsessive-compulsive and related disorder due to another medical condition, and other specified obsessive-compulsive and related dis­order and unspecified obsessive-compulsive and related disorder (e.g., body-focused re­petitive behavior disorder, obsessional jealousy).

7) Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

include reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic stress disor­der (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders.

8) Dissociative Disorders

characterized by a disruption of and/or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body

representation, motor control, and behavior.

9) Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (Changed from version 4)

somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, con­version disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), psychological factors affect­ing  other  medical  conditions,  factitious  disorder,  other  specified  somatic  symptom  and related disorder, and unspecified somatic symptom and related disorder.

10) Feeding and Eating Disorders

pica,  rumination disorder,  avoidant/restrictive food  intake disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder

11) Elimination Disorders

involve the inappropriate elimination of urine or feces and are usually first diagnosed  in childhood  or adolescence.

12) Sleep-Wake Disorders

Intended for use by general mental health and medical clinicians  (those caring for adult, geriatric, and pediatric pa­tients). Sleep-wake disorders encompass 10 disorders or disorder groups: insomnia disor­der, hypersomnolence disorder, narcolepsy, breathing-related sleep disorders, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep arousal disorders, nightmare disorder, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, restless legs syn­drome, and substance/medication-induced sleep disorder.

13) Sexual Dysfunctions

typically char­acterized by a clinically significant disturbance in a person's ability to respond sexually or to experience sexual pleasure.

Include: delayed ejaculation, erectile disorder, female orgasmic disorder, female sexual interest/arousal disorder, genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, male hypoactive sexual desire disorder, premature (early) ejaculation, substance/medication-induced sexual dysfunction, other specified sexual dysfunction, and unspecified sexual dys­function.

14) Gender Dysphoria (more descriptive than the previous DSM-4 term gender identity disorder & focuses on dysphoria as the clinical problem, not identity per se.)

there is one overarching diagnosis of gender dysphoria, with sepa­rate developmentally appropriate criteria sets for children and for adolescents and adults.

Disorders of sex development denote conditions of inborn somatic deviations of the reproductive tract from the norm and/or discrepancies among the biological indica­tors of male and female.

15) Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

include conditions involv­ing problems in the self-control of emotions and behaviors. the disorders in this chapter are unique in that these problems are manifested in behaviors that violate the rights of others (e.g., aggression, destruction of property) and/or that bring the individual into significant conflict with societal norms or authority figures.

16) Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Encompasses 10 separate classes of drugs: alco­hol; caffeine; cannabis; hallucinogens (with separate categories for phencyclidine [or similarly acting arylcyclohexylamines] and other hallucinogens); inhalants; opioids; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; stimulants (amphetamine-type substances, cocaine, and other stimulants); tobacco; and other (or unknown) substances.

17) Neurocognitive Disorders (NCDs) (referred to in DSM-4 as "Dementia,Delirium, Amnestic, and Other Cognitive Disorders")

The NCD category encom­passes the group of disorders in which the primary clinical deficit is in cognitive function, and that are acquired rather than developmental.

18) Personality Disorders (updated from DSM-4)

A  personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adult­hood, is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment.

Personality disorders are grouped into three clusters based on descriptive similarities.

Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. Individuals with these disorders often appear odd or eccentric.

Cluster B includes antisocial, borderline, histri­onic, and narcissistic personality disorders. Individuals with these disorders often appear dramatic, emotional, or erratic.  

Cluster C includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Individuals with these disorders often appear anxious or fearful.

•  Paranoid personality disorder  is a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such that oth­ers' motives are interpreted as malevolent.

•  Schizoid personality disorder is a pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression.

•  Schizotypal personality disorder  is a pattern of acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behavior.

•  Antisocial personality disorder  is a pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.

•  Borderline  personality  disorder  is  a  pattern  of instability  in  interpersonal  relation­ships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity.

•  Histrionic  personality  disorder  is  a  pattern  of excessive  emotionality  and  attention seeking.

•  Narcissistic personality disorder is a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

•  Avoidant personality disorder is a pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

•  Dependent personality disorder is a pattern of submissive and clinging behavior re­lated to an excessive need to be taken care of.

•  Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a pattern of preoccupation with order­liness, perfectionism, and control.

•  Personality change due to another medical condition  is a persistent personality dis­turbance that is judged to be due to the direct physiological effects of a medical condi­tion (e.g., frontal lobe lesion).

•  Other specified personality disorder and unspecified personality disorder is a cate­gory provided for two situations:

1) the individual's personality pattern meets the gen­eral criteria for a personality disorder, and traits of several different personality disorders are present, but the criteria for any specific personality disorder are not met; or

2) the individual's personality pattern meets the general criteria for a personality dis­order, but the individual is considered to have a personality disorder that is not in­cluded in the DSM-5 classification (e.g., passive-aggressive personality disorder).

19) Paraphilic Disorders

An individual may be said to have that paraphilia but not a paraphilic disorder if some of the criterion are met and not others.

Voyeuristic disorder (spying on others in private activities), exhibitionistic disorder  (exposing the genitals), frotteuristic disorder  (touching  or  rubbing  against  a  nonconsenting  individual),  sexual  masochism disorder (undergoing humiliation, bondage, or suffering), sexual sadism disorder (inflict­ing humiliation, bondage, or suffering), pedophilic disorder (sexual focus on children), fetishistic disorder (using nonliving objects or having a highly specific focus on nongenital body  parts),  and  transvestic  disorder  (engaging  in  sexually  arousing  cross-dressing).

20) Other Mental  Disorders

This residual category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a mental disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important ar­eas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any other mental dis­order  in  DSM-5.

1) Other specified mental disorder due to another medical condition
2) unspecified mental disorder due to another medical condition
3) other specified mental disorder

4) unspecified mental disorder.

Treatment - Where you come in.

   Amateur - Be supportive. Always urge the sufferer of mental illness to a professional. Do not dismiss them. This is your chance to help get them the care they need. Never shame them or insist that it’s “nothing” “or just hormones”. Though many times it is quite simple, just as often it is not and you will inflict unintentional harm on the sufferer.

   Expert - Starts with the family practice general medical practitioner. Have a conversation. Make an appointment for whatever it is you think you may be suffering from. This will prepare the doctor to take the proper time to help. Expect to be referred to a specialist, as many things are beyond the scope of family practice and need higher levels of training.

Helpful Resources

Special thanks to tumblr user mentalillnessmouse for this excellent list.

Helpful resources categorized by topic:

Urgent

• Mental Support Community A forum where you can post  when you are in crisis RIGHT NOW, and need peer support as quickly as possible.

• Samaritans UK (email, postal mail, in-person, and over the phone

• BoysTown National Hotline (email, chat, phone)

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline (phone, chat)

• National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives

• RAINN online hotline [Rape, abuse, and incest national network]

• IMAlive is a live online network that uses instant messaging to respond to people in crisis. People need a safe place to go during moments of crisis and intense emotional pain.

• Lifeline crisis chat is a online chat where you can talk to trained operators in times of crisis- Australian based.

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General resources

• PsychForums Psychology and Mental Health Forums, a great place to ask questions and learn more.

• Psych Central Forums and great information.

• Lets Recover Together A Tumblr blog that contains inspiration and a place to get advice and support.

• How to find a Support Group How to find the proper support group and other resources.

• DailyStrength A support forum for a variety of different situations and disorders/illnesses.

• Medline Plus isthe National Institutes of Health’s Web site for patients and their families and friends. It brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues.

• The Treatment Advocacy Center is an United States of America nonprofit organization working to eliminate barriers to timely treatment of severe mental illness.

• Mental Health Medications Guidedescribes the types of medications used to treat mental disorders, side effects of medications and directions for taking medications.

• Open minds open doors is a initiative aimed at ending discrimination against people with mental illness.

• Active minds is the only organization working to utilize the student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses.

• This post gives information on what Tics are and how they are treated.

• Here’s some tips for preparing for a natural disaster when you have a mental illness.

• Looking for a book about mental illness?  Check out our Book List!

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General techniques & posts

• Here are some great posts on mindfulness.

• This is a step by step guide to belly breathing.

• Here are some exercises you can do that helps to keep you in the present grounding techniques. Mental grounding exercises. Physical grounding exercises. Soothing grounding exercises.

• Having trouble falling asleep? Here are some tips from followers that might help.

• This is a guide on how to make a comfort box.

• Safety plan cards are a great idea to keep in your wallet or comfort box which reminds you of your coping mechanisms and people who you can call to be safe.

• The Mood Diary can help you and your doctor monitor your illness. By gathering information about your mood, events in your life, sleep patterns and medications you are taking, you may notice patterns that would otherwise remain undetected.

• Tips on remember to take medication. And here’s our list.

• Pleasant event scheduling is a very simple technique where you do at least 3 pleasant events per week so your life if filled with happy enjoyable moments. Here is also a Pleasant Activities List where you can rate how enjoyable you find an activity. Don’t worry about the scoring - this is just a way to help you gauge which activities to include that will help the most.

• Here is a post listing 8 simple tips to help overcome loneliness.

• This post lists 10 tips on how to work through feelings of social isolation.

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Getting a therapist

• This post on picking a therapist has some great tips.

• This is a step by step on getting a therapist.

• Psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or counsellor?

• 50 Signs of Good Therapy

• Having issues with therapy?  Here are 50 Warning Signs of Questionable Therapy

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Helping a friend

• Want to help a friend with a mental illness or disorder? This post provides some great tips.

• Want to help a friend or loved one with Social Anxiety? This post provides some great tips.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration launched the Mental Health Campaign for Mental Health Recovery to encourage, educate, and inspire people between 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems.

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How to tell someone about your mental health & interactions with others

• This post on telling someone about your mental health problem has some great tips and advice.

• This is a post with links to various module you can complete to help you assert yourself.

• Here is a online self help book that has some self help tips and information on social skills training.

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Abuse

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.  

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about any form of abuse and how it affected you.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• What is emotional abuse? explores what emotional abuse is.

• Domestic abuse is a collection of a few different posts that might help.

• This is a link to help find women shelters in the USA.

• Coping with flashbacks

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Addictions

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about addictions and impulse problems and how it affects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Facility Locator or mental health and substance abuse treatment programs and resources in the USA.

• The addiction help center has an extensive range information and resources about different types of addictions including food addictions, work addictions, sex addictions, internet addictions, shopping addictions, gambling addiction and self harm addiction.

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ADD/ ADHD

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about ADD/ADHD and how it affects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

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Adoption

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

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Anger Management

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Here is a post that list some strategies to keep anger at bay.

• This websites explains how to gain control over your anger.

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Anxiety and Panic Disorder

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about anxiety disorders and how it effects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Living with anxiety has some great information and some self help advice.

• Here is a great explanation of anxiety and some self help tips.

• This is a guide to Muscle Relaxation that might help your anxiety.   

• Here is also an article on social anxiety disorder self help tips.

• Here is also some information on exploring and coping with panic attacks.

• Here is some information and self help tips on how to handle panic attacks.

• Here are some exercises you can do that helps to keep you in the present and to control anxiety grounding techniques.  Mental grounding exercises. Physical grounding exercises. Soothing grounding exercises.

• Mood Gym is an interactive website that allows you to learn cognitive behaviour therapy skills for preventing and coping with anxiety.

• This is a moodchart with a specific anxiety and irritability scale that allows you to measure and track your day to day anxiety levels.

• Here is a online self help book that has some self help tips and information on social skills training.

• Here is a self help workbook that you might find helpful panic attacks workbook.

• Beyond Blue - a nonprofit working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related disorders in Australia.

• Social Anxiety Support

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Autism

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Here is a post that explains asperger syndrome.

• Here is a online self help book that has some self help tips and information on social skills training.

• The thinking person’s guide to autism is a great website full of resources and recommended readings.

• Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism  

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Bipolar Disorders

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about bipolar  and how it affects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

• FacingUs Clubhouse Wellness Tracker, Wellness Book, Crisis Planning, Etc.

• The icarus project is a website with some great resources and some forums.

• The balanced mind is a website that provides information for parents and family of children with bipolar disorder.

• The black dog institute has some great resources for depression and bipolar disorder.

• Here is a description of mania and hypomania from The black dog institute.

• Here is a webpage that explains hypomania and it’s symptoms.

• Bipolar Support tumblr

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Body Positivity & self esteem

• Stop Hating Your Body A Tumblog promoting acceptance and love for all bodies, regardless of shape, weight, colour, and so forth.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Body Positive Zone A tumblr that promotes self love, and loving of all bodies.  

• Self Care 101 is a tumblr with self-care tips and related posts to remind you that it’s important to love yourself.

• This is a great post that lists some resources to help improve your self esteem.

• Want a simply way to try and improve your self esteem try this  30 day self esteem challenge.

• This is a great article on developing positive self esteem.

• This is a post on learning-to-love-yourself.

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Borderline Personality Disorder

• This post lists  ten guidelines for families partners and friends of people with BPD.

• This is a toolbox with tips and hints for people with personality disorders.

• National Education Alliance Borderline Personality Disorder  [NEABPD]

• NEABPD Recovery resources

• PsychCentral - BPD symptoms and general information

• PsychCentral - Living with BPD

• WebMD - BPD overview

• BPD Central

• NAMI - BPD overview and resources

• BPD Demystified

• BPD Today

• About.com - BPD overview and resources

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Bullying

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about bullying in any form and how it affects your life.

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Chronic Pain and pain management

• This is a text post that lists some techniques to help cope and manage chronic pain.

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Mental health crisis

• Mind Information on how to identify a mental health crisis, what to do to prepare, and what to do if you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis.  

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Dermatillomania

• Experience project - ” I have Dermatillomania”  a site where people share their stories/experiences with dermatillomania

• SkinPick.com - An online community for those with dermatillomania and/or related disorders. Also has lists of resources and comprehensive information.

• Dermatillomania resources - General information on dermatillomania, its causes, treatment, and more.

• DermaThings - How to stop picking

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Depression and Dysthymia

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about regular unipolar forms of depression and how it affects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

• FacingUs Clubhouse Wellness Tracker, Wellness Book, Crisis Planning, Etc.

• Mood Gym is an interactive website that allows you to learn cognitive behaviour therapy skills for preventing and coping with depression.

• What is dysthymia? This is an submission from a follower explaining dysthymia.

• What is the difference between dysthymia and major depression?

• The black dog institute has some great resources for depression and bipolar disorder.

• This is a link to a great workbook you can do to teach you about coping with depression.

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Dissociative Disorders & Dissociation

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• This is a post that explains dissociation in a little more detail.

• Dissociation link also has some great information and resources.

• Here are some exercises you can do that helps to keep you in the present grounding techniques.  Mental grounding exercises. Physical grounding exercises. Soothing grounding exercises.

• This site gives some great strategies you can follow to help manage Dissociation.

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Eating Disorders

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about eating disorders and how it affects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• The addiction help center has lots of resources that explains eating disorders, their treatment and much more.

• Kati Morton, a therapist, makes weekly videos about various aspects of living with an eating disorder and coping strategies you can use.

• Something Fishy is a website that provides information on eating disorders and places to find treatment, as well as forums for people with eating disorders and friends/family members.

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Grief & Loss

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about the experience of grief and/or bereavement, and the painful process of adjusting to the loss of someone or something you love.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• SAVE provides suicide bereavement support and offers numerous coping strategies.  

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OCD

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• It might help to read some information on this blog ocdfree that has some great links and forums.

• The ocd foundation has some fantastic links for finding help, resources, links and information about OCD.

• This post gives information on what Tics are and how they are treated.

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Perfectionism

• Overcoming perfectionism is a great resource that explains what perfectionism is and gives tips on how to overcome your perfectionist thinking.

• This post explains the relationship between perfectionism and procrastination.

• This is an article called  Perfectionism: the road to failure.

• The counseling center offers some great information and on perfectionism and tips on how to overcome procrastination.  

• This is an article that  provides specific tips for perfectionists coping with failure.  

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Personality Styles and Disorders

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about  personality styles and disorders (borderline, narcissistic, antisocial, dependent, obsessive-compulsive, etc.) and how these affect people and relationships.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• SDPD A wealth of resources on self-defeating personality disorder, related disorders and personalities disorders.

• This is a toolbox with tips and hints for people with personality disorders.

• Outofthefog is a website that has comprehensive guides to various personality disorders, their causes, symptoms and treatment.

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PTSD & Trauma

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Here are some tips and tricks on coping with flashbacks.

• Here is a post with some information on PTSD service dogs.

• This article explains the link between ptsd and dissociation

• Coping with flashbacks

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Relationship Problems

• Mental Support Community A forum where you can talk about relationship difficulties such as how hard it is to make relationships work.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

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Schizophrenia

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about schizophrenia and how it affects your life.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• This website has lots of comprehensive information about schizophrenia, it’s causes, treatment and management.

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Self Injury

• Feeling the need to self injure? Please take a look at these posts: 24 ways to avoid self injury & Alternatives to self harm. More alternatives to self harm.

• Check out this support community for individuals who self harm recover your life.

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Understanding self injury is a text post that explains that self injury is an addiction and the different forms of self injury.

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about self harm and how it affects your life.

• Here is a  post about understanding self-injury, the reasons why it occurs and the forms it can take.

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Sexuality Issues

• Mental Support Community A forum to talk about sexuality issues including performance and lack of desire issues, fetishes, sexual addictions & compulsive pornography use and the impact of these issues on self-esteem and relationships.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

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Stress

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• It might also help to read this on managing stress.

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Suicide Prevention

• Help Guide A site containing articles to help understand, help numbers,  “tool kits”, and self help.

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• Volunteers of America Learn information about suicide, understanding suicide, and handling suicidal threats.

• Feeling Suicidal? Please take a moment to read this post on how to cope with suicidal thoughts.

• Want to help someone who is feeling suicidal? This post on suicide prevention might help.

• The international association for suicide prevention is dedicated to preventing suicidal behaviour and alleviating it’s effects. It also has links to forums.

• The national organisation for people of colour against suicide promotes life-affirming strategies that will help to decrease life-threatening behaviors.

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Teen issues

• Helping Teens They address topics such as  suicide, depression, sex, sexuality & pregnancy, self harm, rape & abuse, school & after school, bullies, relationships, family & friends, smoking, self esteem, religion & spirituality, general health, disorders & eating disorders, drugs & alcohol

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Tourettes

• Mental Help A site that has basic information, resources, articles, and a list of books that might be helpful.

• This post gives information on what Tics are and how they are treated.

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Trichotillomania  

• Trichchotillomania is a site with some great information and resources.

• This might also be helpful it is a self help program to managing trichotillomania.

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Interactive websites

• Mood Gym is an interactive website that allows you to learn cognitive behaviour therapy skills for preventing and coping with depression. The techniques can additionally be applied to a range of mental health issues.

• Facing us The Facing Us Clubhouse is a program brought to you by The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The website contains options to create a journal and wellness plan. In addition to great resources such as a wellness tracker (similar to a mood diary) and general tips.