If you're having an emergency, call 911.

If not, take a deep breath, and consider the following:

    One of the keys to mental health is resourcefullness and self advocacy. Mental illness is not your fault, but it is your responsibility. You have to get info, talk to people, figure out a path that makes sense for you.

    It is not a good idea to email me if you or a loved one needs help, because I am not a trained doctor or counselor, nor is it ever possible for me to provide adequate mental health support over email.

Top recommendations:

For Teens:
Try  nostigma.org. Watch the videos of the speakers in The Heard. Discover ways to get help if you or a friend needs it.

For College Age People:
Try Activemindsoncampus.org. This is an absolutely amazing organization with chapters on 50 campuses. Join one on yours, or start one.

For Families:
Try Nami.org. Hooking up with a local chapter of NAMI, for instance can get you access to families who have been through what you're going through. They can help you with dealing with stigma, the mental health care system, doctors, medications, schools systems, legalities, and the anxieties and insecurities that accompany mental illness. If you reach out to resources in your area, you will find a broad range of support. I have personally visited dozens of NAMI chapters nation wide and personally met hundreds of compassionate, intelligent, devoted people who are set up and ready to help.

For Online Support:
Try Mood Garden Forums.  Mood Garden Forums, a message board operated by people with mental illnesses, provides an online information and support forum for people with mood disorders and related conditions. There are other online message boards for many topics. While online forums are helpful, they are not to be considered as professional advice. I am not affiliated with Mood Garden in any way; use such forums at your own risk.

People survive mental illness and go on and lead healthy lives. You can too.