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Curated resources to help your family navigate mental illness
Featured resources
Mental Health Rights
Mental Health America (MHA)
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Article
MHA’s summary statement of relevant ethical rights of people with mental illness...
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Relationships: Where Treatment and Recovery Begins
NAMI, Dr. Xavier Amador
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3rd-party resource
Amador’s book and LEAP method for communicating and collaborating effectively wi...
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Helping your loved one who is suicidal
SAMHSA
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Online guide
A guide for family and friends looking to help their loved one who is suicidal
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All resources
Discharge Planning Checklist
Akin
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Worksheet
Family planning checklist for discharge from a psychiatric hospitalization.
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BeThe1To.com
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External resource
Straightforward guidelines and steps to support a person who may be suicidal.
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Problem Solving Worksheet
Akin
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Worksheet
Akin's 7-step problem solving worksheet.
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Helping your loved one who is suicidal
SAMHSA
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Online guide
A guide for family and friends looking to help their loved one who is suicidal
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Lorna and bipolar disorder
Recovery Stories
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YouTube video
Lorna shares her story of recovery with bipolar disorder. She shares the importa...
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A Portrait of Schizophrenia
Cecilia
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YouTube video
In this video Cecilia shares her experience living with schizophrenia and advice...
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Working with Schizophrenia
Kody Green
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YouTube video
YouTube channel 'schizophrenicHippie' about navigating life with schizophrenia. ...
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My journey through schizophrenia and homelessness
Bethany Yeiser
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YouTube video
(8m 23s) At TedxCincinnati, Bethany Yeiser presents her inspiring story of recov...
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My Mental Health Crisis Plan App
SMI Adviser
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App
App from SMI Adviser that allows users to create a digital Psychiatric Advance D...
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Oregon's Declaration for Mental Health Treatment Guide
Oregon DHS
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External resource
An example of a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) that can be completed by an ...
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How to use My Mental Health Crisis Plan App
SMI Adviser
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YouTube video
Introduction to the SMI Adviser crisis planning app.
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List of Crisis Resources
Akin
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Worksheet
Numbers to know for crisis situations and for finding local mental health resour...
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The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness
Coursera
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External resource
Intensive course which explore the social context and historical evolution of ho...
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Induced Auditory Hallucinations
Al Powers & Phil Corlett
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3rd-party resource
Podcast from leading psychosis researchers Powers, Corlett, and Mathys explainin...
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Anyone Can Be Trained to Hallucinate, and That’s Teaching Scientists About Perception
PBS
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Article
Nova article describing some of the latest research about hearing voices (Powers...
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Basics for Understanding Mental Illness
Mental Health America (MHA)
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3rd-party resource
Brief helpful information to understand mental health (see flowchart on bottom t...
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Living Well with a Serious Mental Illness
SAMHSA
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3rd-party resource
Brief and helpful information about living with SMI including personal videos an...
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Genetic testing and psychiatric medications
APA
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Article
Research summary explaining why genetic testing to tailor psychiatric prescripti...
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Risk and Protective Factors
SAMHSA
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Article
A helpful alternative way to think about stress-vulnerability factors in causing...
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A new model for schizophrenia
Stephen Wood
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Article
A summary of Howes & Murray’s scientific research on the dopamine hypothesis and...
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Video resources for mental health conditions
NAMI
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Video
NAMI’s video resources organized by specific diagnoses.
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What is a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD)?
SAMHSA / SMI Adviser
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YouTube video
Less than 2 minute video from SAMHSA / SMI Adviser describing what a PAD is, how...
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Laws We Need to Know: Understanding Rules and Programs for Persons with Mental Illness
Baron L. Miller, J.D.
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Book
Baron Miller is an attorney who has navigated legal and healthcare systems as a ...
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Directory of Peer Respites
National Empowerment Center
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Online directory
Peer respites are voluntary, peer-run, short-term overnight programs. Where avai...
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Community-based alternatives to police in your city
Don't call the police
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Online directory
Database of local and national community-based alternatives to calling the polic...
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Guide to SSDI and SSI Benefits
NAMI
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Policy summary
Summary about disability income and benefits as they relate to mental health.
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Practical Guide to Psychiatric Advance Directives (PAD)
SAMHSA
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Online guide
Helpful guidelines and information about how and why to complete a PAD. See also...
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Mental Health Rights
Mental Health America (MHA)
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Article
MHA’s summary statement of relevant ethical rights of people with mental illness...
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Listing of Advance Directive documents
MH Self Help
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External resource
High quality listing of documents and guides for understanding and completing Ps...
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HIPAA: Privacy rule for healthcare
HHS
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Policy summary
HHS website describes HIPAA rules and regulations that cover privacy and securit...
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Self care is putting on your oxygen mask first
U. Mass Med School
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Article
The tip sheet is written for the parents and care-givers of young adults with se...
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Circle of Care Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers
NAMI
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3rd-party resource
Curated fact sheets designed to guide unpaid friends, family and neighbors who c...
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Prioritizing Your Own Well Being
Family Caregiver Alliance
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YouTube video
Generally aimed at other types of caregivers and supporters, but this video and ...
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CBT for Psychosis: Approaches Families Can Use
NAMI, Kingdon & Turkington
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Article
Information and techniques to communicate about and despite psychosis. Brief art...
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Hearing Voices Network USA
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3rd-party resource
Entirely peer-led and operated approach to supporting people experiencing voices...
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Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me
Ellen Forney
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Book
Illustrated memoir that provides insights into lived experience of mania and its...
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The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide
D. Miklowitz
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Book
Book shares proven strategies for managing bipolar or supporting a loved one.
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How do you treat someone who doesn’t accept they’re ill?
BBC
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Article
A reasonably even-handed report following stories of several families and the co...
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Relationships: Where Treatment and Recovery Begins
NAMI, Dr. Xavier Amador
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3rd-party resource
Amador’s book and LEAP method for communicating and collaborating effectively wi...
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Stigma, Prejudice, and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness
Psychiatry.org
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3rd-party resource
Relatively brief summary of mental health stigma in society and in ourselves, br...
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Insomnia treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy instead of sleeping pills
Mayo Clinic
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Article
Introduces cognitive behavioral therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), an evidence-based ...
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Schizophrenia and Sleep
Sleep Health Foundation, AU
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Article
Simple summary of the broad relationships between sleep, psychosis, and other pr...
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How to cope with sleep problems
Mind.org, UK
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Article
Nicely designed information and advice about sleep and mental illness.
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What Makes You Tick: Circadian Rhythms
Oxford Univ
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YouTube video
(2m 30s) Brief animated summary of circadian rhythms, the relationship with ligh...
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Sleep Facts and Myths
The Guardian
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Article
Brief FAQ on sleep myths from a reputable researcher at Oxford University.
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Sleep Melds Memories
Harvard Magazine
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Article
Article summarizes programs of research around sleep and memory and how sleep an...
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Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Matthew Walker, PhD
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Book
A best-seller that reveals the surprising science of sleep including how sleep i...
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How to do laundry when you're depressed
KC Davis
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YouTube video
Therapist KC Davis provides insight into the challenges faced carrying out daily...
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Phrases for Empathizing
Akin
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Worksheet
Remember key phrases for empathizing and understanding in a conversation
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Your crisis response guide
Akin
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Worksheet
This guide will walk your through step by step of collecting the information you...
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Expressing Positive Emotion
Akin
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Worksheet
Quick reference tips for how and why to express positive emotion in a conversati...
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Expressing Negative Emotion
Akin
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Worksheet
Quick tips for how to constructively express negative emotions and use "I statem...
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Making Requests
Akin
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Worksheet
Helpful reminders for how to make successful requests in a conversation
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What porcupines teach us about boundaries
Henry Ammar
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YouTube video
(10m 26s) Interesting TED talk about levels of relationships and the risks of “l...
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What are Personal Boundaries? Handout
Therapist Aid
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3rd-party resource
One page handout about patterns of boundaries.
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DEAR method worksheet
Akin
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Worksheet
Fill out this worksheet to practice the DEAR method for making requests
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Boundaries with Brene Brown
Brené Brown
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Video
(5m 40s) Dr. Brown briefly answers questions about the difficulty of setting bou...
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Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind
Andy Dunn
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Book
Memoir of mental illness and entrepreneurship through the momentum and liabiliti...
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5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Techniques
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3rd-party resource
After a trauma, it’s normal to experience flashbacks, anxiety, and other uncomfo...
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Firearms Safety Counseling Guide
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External resource
This guide has been developed as a resource for counselors to work through impor...
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What ACTUALLY Happens When You Call/Text a Suicide or Crisis Hotline
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YouTube video
YouTube video from person who is both crisis call counselor and service user.
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Here's What Happens When You Call Into A Suicide Prevention Hotline
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Article
Suicide hotlines can provide free and confidential support 24/7. Here's what to ...
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National Domestic Violence Hotline
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3rd-party resource
Abuse is sadly common. If it “crosses a line” and your health and safety are aff...
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Phrases for Active Listening
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Worksheet
Phrases to kick start a conversation with active listening.
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Brené Brown on Empathy
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YouTube video
Brené Brown illustrates the difference between sympathy and empathy and highligh...
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EasyWellness
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App
Easy to use iPhone app which helps build simple wellness habits such as breathin...
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Listing of Involuntary/Assisted Treatment Standards by state
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Policy summary
Summary of legal codes sorted by state regarding involuntary commitment for ment...
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What Causes Psychosis?
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3rd-party resource
Well-illustrated summary of what causes psychosis experiences and related mental...
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NIMH "Mental Illness"
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3rd-party resource
Statistics and definitions on severe mental illness and mental illness overall i...
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Research Report: Is there a link between marijuana use and psychiatric disorders?
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3rd-party resource
Research summary from NIDA on cannabis and psychosis.
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California may require labels on pot products to warn of mental health risks
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3rd-party resource
NPR story about cannabis laws, summarizes mental health risks.
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Opposite of addiction is connection video
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YouTube video
Presents a unique way to think about and support people with substance use probl...
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Family Safety Plan
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Worksheet
Fill out this template to help your family prepare for crisis and keep everyone ...
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NAMI’s Being Prepared for a Crisis
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3rd-party resource
Briefly discusses WRAP, PAD, and Conservatorship. Includes 4 minute informationa...
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MHA’s “Think Ahead - Mental Health Crisis Plan”
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3rd-party resource
Designed for individuals. Includes detailed descriptions for each section.
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Find a Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) Facilitator
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3rd-party resource
WRAP is an evidence-based relapse prevention and recovery planning process typic...
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99 Coping Skills
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3rd-party resource
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Local Community Services
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3rd-party resource
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Find Peer Support
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3rd-party resource
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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
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3rd-party resource
Learn about 988 and when/how to use crisis calls.
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Short Film: Surviving Schizophrenia
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YouTube video
Description: “Elyn Saks, Debra Lampshire and Paris Williams are all world expert...
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Lauren: My Experience with Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder
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YouTube video
Young woman describes her long-term struggles with mental health, including suic...
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Debra Lampshire TEDx Hearing Voices: An Insiders Guide to Auditory Hallucinations
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YouTube video
Debra Lampshire, international leader in psychosocial approaches to psychosis an...
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Kyra Shares How Emory Healthcare Veterans Program Helped Her with Her PTSD Journey
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YouTube video
Kyra and her mother share her story of combat-related trauma and suffering throu...
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What Matters Most: Young People in Recovery (trailer)
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YouTube video
Four young people introduce their stories of recovery during struggles with psyc...
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