Families of Mentally Ill

Self Help Clearinghouse

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

(BILINGUAL) National. 1100 groups. Founded 1979. Dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Has local self-help and educational groups for family members and mental health consumers. Online community message boards, e-newsletters, blogs and online fact sheets. Quarterly magazines. Focuses on support, education, advocacy and research. Provides online veterans resource center.
Write:
NAMI
3803 North Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203-1701
Voice: 1-800-950-6264 (helpline) or 703-524-7600 (day)
Fax: 703-524-9094
Website: http://www.nami.org
Verified: 10/13/2010

Schizophrenia Society of Canada

(ENGLISH and FRENCH) National. 110 societies. Founded 1979. Information, support and advocacy for families and friends of persons with schizophrenia. Public awareness campaigns, advocacy and fund-raising. Newsletters. Guidelines and assistance for starting self-help groups. Information and referrals, phone help, conferences, brochures, handbooks and videos.
Write:
Schizophrenia Society of Canada
100-4 Fort St.
Winnipeg, MB , Canada R3C 1C4
Voice: 204-786-1616
Fax: 204-783-4898
Website: http://www.schizophrenia.ca
E-mail: info@schizophrenia.ca
Verified: 10/13/2010

Attachment and Trauma Network

National network. Founded 1997. Support and information for parents and professionals dealing with children with attachment issues or reactive attachment disorder. Newsletter, referrals, phone and online support. Dues $25 (includes newsletter).
Voice: 240-357-7369
Fax: 301-473-9399
Website: http://www.radzebra.org
E-mail: lorraine@radzebra.org
Verified: 10/13/2010

Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

National. 137 affiliated groups. Founded 1989. Parent-run organization focused on the needs of children and youth with emotional, behavioral or mental disorders and their families. Provides information, advocacy, newsletter and conferences. For local support group information, click on 'Who We Are' on top of menu bar; then click on 'Local Chapters and State Organizations.'
Write:
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
9605 Medical Ctr. Dr., Ste. 280
Rockville, MD 20850
Voice: 240-403-1901
Fax: 240-403-1909
Website: http://www.ffcmh.org
E-mail: ffcmh@ffcmh.org
Verified: 10/14/2010

BPD Central

Online. Provides links to online groups for persons dealing with a loved one with borderline personality disorder. Several mailing lists given for parents, siblings, grandparents and others close to someone with BPD. Group for persons with BPD themselves (BorderPD).
Website: http://www.bpdcentral.com
Verified: 10/13/2010

The Selective Mutism Group

Online. Founded 1999. Devoted to educating and promoting awareness on selective mutism and other related childhood anxiety disorders. Online forums and 'Expert Chats' in addition to the Connections Program that links individuals and provides state support group meeting information. Individual or family membership $45/yr.
Website: http://selectivemutism.org
Verified: 9/28/2010

Selective Mutism Foundation, Inc.

National. Founded 1992. Pioneering group that offers mutual support for professionals and parents of children with selective mutism or social phobia (a psychiatric anxiety disorder in which children are unable to speak in social situations). Includes social anxiety and shyness. Also open to adults who have or outgrew the disorder. Provides information and online support. Website contains DSM revisions, research studies, printable brochures, literature and publications.
Write:
Selective Mutism Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 13133
Sissonville, WV 25360
Website: http://www.selectivemutismfoundation.org
E-mail: carolyn@selectivemutismfoundation.org or sue@selectivemutismfoundation.org
Verified: 10/11/2010

Conduct Disorders Parent Message Board

Online. 7080 members. Founded 1995. Support for parents of a child with one of the many behavior disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Parents with children of all ages welcome.
Website: http://www.conductdisorders.com
Verified: 8/13/2010

Adult Children of Multiplicity

Model. Founded 1998. Provides companionship and back-up support for adult children (ages 18+) who had or have a parent with Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder (MPD/DID).
Voice: 415-585-6352 (11am-11:30pm PST)
Verified: 12/8/2009

Adult Children of Narcissists

Online. E-mail-based support group for children of narcissistic parents. Offers a safe, supportive, nurturing environment to discuss past and present concerns about being raised with a narcissistic parent.
Website: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/adultchildernofnarcissists
Verified: 10/13/2010

Sibling Support Project

National. 200 affiliated groups. Founded 1990. Organization dedicated to the life long concerns of brothers and sisters of children with special health, developmental and mental health concerns. Provides training and technical assistance regarding Sibshops and workshops for school-age siblings.
Voice: 206-297-6368
Website: http://www.siblingsupport.org
E-mail: donmeyer@siblingsupport.org
Verified: 9/14/2010

Schizophrenia-parents

Online. 294 members. Founded 2000. Support for people who have children (of any age) or other loved ones that have a schizophrenia disease. Warm, supportive, caring and educational environment for sharing experiences, feelings, research and resources.
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenia-parents
Verified: 10/13/2010

paranoidpersonalitydisorderforum

Online. 562 members. Founded 2001. Support, understanding and information for anyone affected by a loved one or friend with paranoid personality disorder. Share daily struggles and teach one another from individual experiences.
Website: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/paranoidpersonalitydisorderforum
Verified: 10/13/2010

SibNet

Online. 1157 members. Founded 1998. Listserv for and about adult brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental and emotional needs. Opportunity for adult brothers and sisters to share information and discuss issues of common interest. Subscribers can connect with their peers, seek information about local services, create connections for their siblings and discuss the proper policies agencies should have toward brothers and sisters.
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sibnet
Verified: 9/24/2010

North American Society for Childhood Onset Schizophrenia

(NASCOS) Online. Founded 2004. Provides families of children with childhood-onset schizophrenia (onset before age 13) with access to information, discussion forum, e-mail list and a geographical locator in order to find other members in your region. Families and caregivers of older patients, whose onset was during childhood, as well as interested professionals are welcome to join.
Website: http://www.nascos.org
Verified: 12/14/2009

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.