Links & Useful Resources

The web sites below provide information on mental illness with a special emphasis on schizophrenia and other illnesses with psychotic symptoms. Although designated categories for each web site suggest a primary focus, most sites offer a variety of topics.

Please click a title to see links in that category:

http://www.ncmentalhealthvote.org/

NCMentalHealthVote.org is a non-partisan website designed to educate politicians and voters about mental health issues in North Carolina.

http://www.bazelon.org/

The Bazelon Center offers comprehensive information on the laws that protect the rights of individuals with mental illness. Helpful links describe the rights of these individuals in specific areas of life, including housing, employment, education and more.

http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org

The web site for the Treatment Advocacy Center explains issues relative to policy and practice in the arena of mental health. It also includes medical resources and legal information specific to each state; information on eliminating barriers; and it promotes laws, policies, and practices for psychiatric care.

http://www.nami.org/

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a non-profit support and advocacy organization comprised of clients, friends, and family members of people with mental illness. The web site targets education, support, and action as the primary resource links. Visitors can also find links to local NAMI chapters.

http://www.nmha.org/

Mental Health America is network of community-based mental health associations providing advocacy, education, programs, and services. The site includes links to state affiliates, such as the one for North Carolina: www.mha-nc.org. The North Carolina state affiliate site also provides links to many county affiliates. For instance, The Mental Health Association of Orange County provides a pro-bono therapy network, family supports, and mentoring programs.

http://www.mhreform.org/

The Campaign for Mental Health Reform is a coalition of 17 national groups working to provide a united voice of federal mental health policy by monitoring legislation and administrative initiatives.

http://www.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/index.html

The Carter Center's Program on Mental Health provides advocacy at all levels and places special emphasis on reducing stigma and discrimination. The organization promotes parity and integration of mental health services across all aspects of mental health care. The program also sponsors a fellowship for journalists as a direct way of targeting stigma.

http://www.upennrrtc.org

The UPENN Collaborative on Community Integration is a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) focused on promoting community integration for people with psychiatric disabilities.

http://www.protectionandadvocacy.com/

http://www.disabilityrightsnc.org/

This web site of the National Disability Rights Network offers a broad perspective addressing the rights of individuals with any type of disability, and offers links to current issues that affect access to equal opportunity.

http://www.eeoc.gov

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission web site provides information regarding issues relevant to fair practices in the work place.

http://www.nc-canso.org

The NC Consumer Advocacy, Networking and Support Organization (NC-CANSO) is a consumer-operated organization that seeks to represent and address the needs and goals of people who use mental health, developmental disability, and/or substance abuse services. The organization's web site is primarily a blog. This site is currently under construction, in the interim, please use the next link below this one.

http://nccanso.wordpress.com/

North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking, and Support Organization (NC-CANSO)

http://www.nasmhpd.org

National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. This is a membership organization for state officials providing mental health services. The web site includes links to policy papers, such as Implementing recovery-based care: Tangible guidelines for state mental health agencies.

http://ncmentalhope.org/

North Carolina Mental Hope is a group working to increase public awareness, decrease stigma, and promote the civil and human rights of those with mental illness.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=Non-Standing_823

The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services is a group of legislators from the NC General Assembly who are appointed to provide oversight to the service system.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/

The site offers education, practical knowledge, and discussion boards, as well as basic and scholarly information. It includes access to a free newsletter, current news relating to schizophrenia, and book reviews.

http://www.nami.org/

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

http://medlineplus.gov/

Search keyword "schizophrenia" in the National Library of Medicine to access a comprehensive overview of issues relevant to the topic, ranging from basic education to coping strategies and research.

http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-ps01.html

This site was created by Canadian psychiatrist Phillip W. Long, and is appropriate for individuals interested in learning more about schizophrenia. Information on the site identifies symptoms and provides descriptions of the disorder. The site also offers links to a comprehensive selection of external resources, including research articles and video clips.

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Thought_Disorders/Site/index.htm?source=overture

This web site is intended for clients and caregivers, and presents recent developments in the field of schizophrenia with an emphasis on connecting the mental health community.

http://www.schizophreniadigest.com/

Schizophrenia Digest is a printed, quarterly magazine founded by a man with schizophrenia. The magazine explores recent developments in the field. This web site offers resources that complement information presented in the magazine.

http://mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=7

This site is directed toward family and friends, but is a useful resource for anyone interested in learning more about schizophrenia. The web site also has a question and answer section, weblogs, videos, and book reviews.

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/schizophrenia/index.html

This web resource provides education about schizophrenia from the perspective of the field of psychology. The site also presents information about interventions, including psychotherapy and medications.

Information about medications can be very difficult to understand — and like many other things about schizophrenia, the effects of medications can differ from one person to the next. Any decisions about stopping or starting medications should only be made under close supervision of your doctor.

http://www.drugs.com/

This web site provides a general source of information about prescription medications. While you should always talk to a doctor about any questions you have related to medication, this site has useful features like the pill identifier and a list of common side effects.

http://www.eppic.org.au/

Based in Australia, this web resource is intended for caregivers. It emphasizes intervention during the early stages of psychosis. The site offers free access to a newsletter, information on research studies, and supplemental resources.

http://www.psychosissucks.ca/epi/

This web site is sponsored by the Early Psychosis Intervention Program located in British Columbia, Canada. It focuses on basic education related to early psychosis and the benefits of early intervention.

http://www.iris-initiative.org.uk/

IRIS is the Initiative to Reduce the Impact of Schizophrenia, an early intervention program located in Birmingham, England.

http://www.iepa.org.au/

The International Early Psychosis Association provides a network for international communication and collaboration between stakeholders including mental health professionals, clients and their families, and policy makers. Visitors to the site can also locate services across the globe.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml

The National Institute of Mental Health web site features sections on health topics, science news, research and funding, and outreach. The section on schizophrenia details current studies and publications supported by federal funds. It also provides general information about the illness and related, ongoing research.

http://www.narsad.org/

This web site is intended for individuals interested in the research of psychiatric brain disorders. The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression is the largest single contributor to research on psychiatric brain disorders. The web site focuses on education and research that is funded through NARSAD.

http://www.nami.org/

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Find links to local organizations.

http://www.nmha.org/

Mental Health America. Find links to local mental health associations.

http://www.mha-nc.org

Mental Health Association of NC

http://www.fountainhouse.org/

Fountain House, NY (the original clubhouse in the US)

http://www.iccd.org/

International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD)

NC ICCD-affiliated clubhouses:

• http://www.adventurehouse.org/
  Adventure House, Shelby NC
• http://www.adventurehouse.org/
  Club Horizon, Knightdale, NC
• http://www.clubnova.org/
  Club Nova, Carrboro NC
• http://pphclub.tripod.com/
  Piedmont Pioneer House, Gastonia NC
• http://www.sanctuaryhousegso.com/
  Sanctuary House, Greensboro NC
• http://www.thresholdclubhouse.org/
  Threshold, Durham NC
• http://www.sixth-avenue.org/
  Sixth Avenue West Clubhouse, Hendersonville, NC
• http://www.connectionsclubhouse.org/
  Connections Clubhouse, Newton, NC

http://naswnc.org

National Association of Social Workers, North Carolina Chapter

http://www.ncpsychiatry.org

NC Psychiatric Association

http://www.ncpsychology.org

NC Psychological Association

http://www.ncpharmacists.org/

North Carolina Association of Pharmacists

http://www.ncrehab.org/

North Carolina Rehabilitation Association

http://www.ncnurses.org/

North Carolina Nurses Association

http://www.ncpha.com/

North Carolina Public Health Association

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/kdata.aspx?state=NC

State Mental Health Resources for NC (searchable databases) provided by SAMHSA

http://www.nc-council.org

NC Council of Community Programs

http://www.ncproviderscouncil.org

NC Providers Council

http://www.icarenc.org/

North Carolina Center of Excellence for Integrated Care

http://www.ncebpcenter.org/

North Carolina Evidence Based Practices Center

http://www.caramore.org/

Caramore Community, Inc. is an employment and independent living skills training facility for individuals with mental illness located in Carrboro, North Carolina. Caramore provides clinically coordinated, transitional, and community-based 24-hour employment and independent living training services to adult citizens of North Carolina with severe and persistent mental illnesses so that they may lead more normal lives.

http://www.cooperriis.org/

Cooper Riis is a "healing farm community" located in Mill Spring, North Carolina that offers a therapeutic environment for residents who have been affected by mental illness and emotional distress. The mission of Cooper Riis is to help residents cultivate their creativity, wholeness, and relationships to achieve the highest levels of fulfillment and functioning, and to respond productively to future challenges and opportunities for growth.