Downloads, Tools, and Links
In this section, you will find additional tools to help you cope with bipolar disorder.
- Publications
- Interactive tools
- Links to other resources
Support
Numerous support groups are available to people with mental illness and their families. Some of these were started by people who have mental illnesses themselves, and some by people who have lived with a person with mental illness. Families can be very effective in supporting each other and in improving public awareness and education about mental illness. People with mental illness can also provide help in these areas and offer peer support to others with mental illness.
Some support and self-help groups are large national organizations, such as the National Alliance for the Mentally III (NAMI), which has more than 1000 state and local chapters. Other support groups are strictly local. These groups, which are often nonprofit and run by volunteers, can be very helpful to caregivers by offering:
- Help with securing housing, food, medication, and transportation for the individual with a mental illness
- Legal services, educational and rehabilitation programs, and advocacy efforts
- Discussion groups for sharing information, experiences, ideas, and support for those caring for an individual with a mental illness
Resources for Finding Support Groups
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
A leading grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental illness and their families. Provides information, support networks, and education. 200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1015, Arlington, VA 22203-3754 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) www.nami.org.
