There are so many websites out there that are filled with mental health information or that claim to be beneficial for mental health that it can be hard to discern which websites are credible. Our team has compiled this list of the 10 best websites for mental health.
1) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The NAMI website contains a wealth of information for the public including videos, blogs, articles, and resource connections. Sometimes we can worry about the people we care about. We may notice something about someone’s behavior and ask ourselves, “Is this behavior off? Or is this their normal behavior?” It’s not always easy to answer those questions. NAMI gives resources and shares the common signs of mental illness ranging from anxiety to ADHD to Schizophrenia and more. It is important to note that this website does not provide a diagnosis, but provides information to help the public be better informed. Counselor Steve found that the information NAMI gives is very helpful and can lead to more informed decisions regarding mental health.
Psych Central has blogs with practice mental health applications that are searchable by disorder. These blogs provide education for living with the disorder, helpful stories, and resources to find support. Counselor Rashada found the article Black Women and Depression eye-opening as it discussed research surrounding stigmas and stereotypes that prevent Black women from asking for help. Psych Central also offers self-administered quizzes that allow a user to assess their symptoms. Please note: These quizzes are not meant to diagnose, but to help users make informed decisions about seeking help.
Experts in the field of mental health collaborated to write easily accessible, evidence-based information for the public about mental health. Lynne Kilgore, LPC-S found two articles on Verywell Mind particularly helpful: How to Get Better at Dealing With Change by Kendra Cherry and Worry Time: The Benefits of Scheduling Time to Stress by Sanjana Gupta. In Cherry’s article, she shares a variety of tips for dealing with change, identifies how change be positive or negative, and discusses how both positive and negative change can produce the same symptoms. She offered tips including: prepare yourself, change how you think, maintain routines, find support, and more. Counselor Lynne finds the tip to change how you think especially helpful. In Gupta’s article, she outlines the benefits and limitations of scheduling a time to worry. Counselor Lynne says, “It is particularly interesting that worry-time should be scheduled to take place in an uncomfortable area so the worry-time would not be counterproductive. It spoke of transitioning out of the worry-time which I felt could be difficult. The article said that not practicing the technique correctly or not having a re-focus plan could result in failure. I have offered this technique to clients, and for the most part, they came to the next appointment with reports of it being helpful. One that I remember was when a client said he would plan worry-time for driving to-from work which was about twenty minutes. The client would usually plan the time in the evening as he returned home from work.”
4) HelpGuide
HelpGuide is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the public find information regarding mental health and resources.
5) GoodTherapy
GoodTherapy’s mission is to educate, empower and connect people to mental health assistance. Something different about this website is how challenging stereotypes and myths in mental health is part of their overall goal.
Child Mind Institute is a great place to get various child and adolescent concerns and questions answered. The information is practical and easy to read. This website is packed full of psychoeducation on numerous mental health topics, including disorders in children and ways to cope. Counselor Maegen says, “I recommend this website to my clients’ parents to help educate them on ways to better support their child and their mental health.”
Kids Mental Health Info can be a good place to start for questions about children’s mental health. This website provides parents with support and education for their child and resources to guide them through the therapeutic process. This provides a space for parents and guardians to do their own research on mental health topics regarding their children.
8) Calm Sage
Calm Sage has tons of information about self-care and ways to promote wellness into your everyday life. It also provides a space to explore ways to practice self-care while also allowing users to share their thoughts and feelings about numerous topics on mental health. Having a space to explore and process others’ experiences with mental health struggles helps identify that you are not alone. Calm Sage offers numerous articles on ways to support others and yourself with your self-care journey. Self-care is much needed, and we often hear how we need to take care of ourselves. However when we hear this and feel encouraged to start, it can be overwhelming to decide just how and where to start. With this website, we find practical answers that will educate and encourage us in our self-care journey. One of the tips that Counselor Steve found helpful was “It’s okay to laugh without any reason or have fun without any reason. Allow yourself to laugh openly and forget your worries.”
9) ADDitude
ADDitude is a great place to find ADHD-specific information.
10) Choosing Therapy
Choosing Therapy has general information about types of therapy, what therapy is, and what to expect. It simplifies the process and attempts to answer questions you might be afraid to ask. It also gives helpful information and education on therapy techniques, types of therapists, and starting therapy. Counselor Rashada found the “Find A Therapist” feature very supportive. It offers filtering options such as appointment availability and types of payment accepted in an attempt to remove barriers for clients.
We hope that we have helped provide you with credible websites for mental health resources! If you are looking for an Alabama mental health professional, we serve central and northeast Alabama with locations in Boaz, Huntsville, Jacksonville, and Jasper. Contact us today to learn more.
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