Resources

• DBSA San Diego
  • DBSA San Diego main Web site     phone 858.444.6776
  • Latest Outreach & Updates newsletter (24 October 2011 issue)
  • Services & Activities Report, updated 18 September 2011
  • 2011 Events Report (by date)
  • 2011 Events Report (by type)
  • Complete contents of the DBSA San Diego Resource CD
  • DBSA San Diego By-Laws
  • DBSA San Diego Library Holdings, updated 02 September 2010
  • DBSA San Diego full-page information sheet
  • DBSA San Diego one-third page information card
  • DBSA San Diego Frequently-Asked Questions
  • DBSA San Diego Support Group Guidelines for Consumer Groups
  • DBSA San Diego Support Group Guidelines for Family & Friends Groups
  • DBSA San Diego Facebook Principles & Guidelines
  • DBSA San Diego Family & Friends support group
  • DBSA San Diego for Family & Friends of Teens
  • DBSA San Diego Amazon Wish List (recommended reading)
  • Comments and Suggestions form
  • Student Questionnaire (to be filled out by student observers of DBSA San Diego meetings)
  • Announcements of upcoming events
  • Archive of Past Announcements


• DBSA California
  • https://dbsacalifornia.org/ (Web site for DBSA California)     phone 916.776.6171


• DBSA (national)
  • https://www.dbsalliance.org/ (Web site for DBSA national)     phone 800.826.3632
  • Find DBSA chapters and support groups throughout the United States.
  • Find A Pro
  • Facing Us
  • Facing Us Wellness Tracker
  • Rebecca's Dream
  • DBSA's Support Group Guidelines
  • DBSA's Guide to Depression and Bipolar Disorder
  • DBSA's Support Group Crisis Response Guide
  • DBSA's Resource Guide 2009 (and more useful resources from DBSA National)
  • From Tour Guides to Resource Guides (various useful resources from DBSA National)

• NAMI San Diego
  • https://www.namisandiego.org/     phone 619.584.5564 and 760.722.3754
  • All past issues of The Advocate newsletter
  • Peer to Peer Recovery Education Course List
  • Volunteers Needed for NAMI San Diego
  • NAMI Basics Education Program


• NAMI California
  • https://namica.org/     phone 916.567.0163


• NAMI (national)
  • https://www.nami.org/     phone 800.950.6264
  • Fight Stigma

• Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital's home page
• Sharp Mesa Vista Clinical Research Center
• Family & Patient Mood Disorders Support Group (weekly)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital
  • Cognitive Therapy Lecture Series (monthly)
  • Cognitive Therapy Outpatient Programs brochure
  • COG IOP program
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital
  • Family & Patient Support Group for DBT (twice monthly)
  • DBT IOP program
• Other Outpatient Programs at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital
  • Adult IOP program
  • Adolescent IOP program
  • Saturday IOP program

• MentalHealth.gov
• Mental Health Fact Sheets from the San Diego Psychiatric Society
• Facing Mental Illness, an infographic by the USC School of Social Work
• A list of the cognitive distortions
• Mood State Pyramid (definitions of numerical mood states)
• Symptoms of Depression and Mania
• Depression Symptoms for Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
• Family and Friends' Guide to Recovery from Depression and Bipolar Disorder
• You've Just Been Diagnosed...What Now?
• Five Ways to Wellbeing
• A simple GRAPES sign
• The BringChange2Mind Principles (See BringChange2Mind.org for more information.)
• Resources for Caregivers and Veterans <---- for veterans
• Veterans Village of San Diego <---- for veterans
• National Consensus Statement on Mental Health Recovery
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation & Recovery Center <---- for veterans
• Support and Family Education program <---- for veterans
• Support Organizations for Mood Disorders (created by Jay for DBSA San Diego)
• Fifty-Two Proven Stress Reducers
• Fun Ways to Reduce Stress (from Libby)
• Ten Morning Mood Boosters (from Libby)
• What Do You Do to Get Going in the Morning? (from Libby)
• NIMH Life Chart Manual for Recurrent Affective Illness (from Karen)
• NIMH Life Chart Daily Blank, for use with the above form (from Karen)
• Financial Assistance for Pets
• Proposed Draft Revisions to DSM Disorders and Criteria
• Mood Letter
• Medpage Today: Psychiatry
• Services directory at Mental Health Systems
• Mental Health America
• WebMD
• BBC Health: Mental Health
• Student Mental Health Resources
• BioMedSearch.com biomedical search and reference site
• Everyday Health
• Anchor Magazine, about depression and bipolar disorder
• McMan's Depression and Bipolar Web (John McManamy's site)
• It's Up to Us (County of San Diego Health and Human Services)
• It's Up to Us (County of San Diego Health and Human Services)
• Network of Care
• HealthCare.gov, the U.S. government's new healthcare Web site
• Californians for Patient Care <---- low-income/no-insurance
• San Diego Community Health Partnership
• Emotional Health Center
• Mental Health Help
• Mental Health Matters
• Mental Health First Aid
• Mayo Clinic
• San Diego Psychiatric Society
• PsychEducation.org
• PsychCentral.com
• Medscape Today
• MedicineNet.com
• Counseling Resources
• Psychology Today's Therapy Directory
• The Therapist Directory of San Diego and their list of Therapy Groups and Support Groups in San Diego
• The Amen Clinics
• Depression
  • DSM-IV Criteria for Major Depressive Episode and Major Depressive Disorder
  • DBSA's Depression page
  • NAMI's Depression page
  • Esperanza Magazine (for anxiety and depression)
  • Depression Center at WebMD
  • Medscape: Depression
  • Depression at Mental Health Matters
  • WebMD Depression Exchange
  • BBC Health: Depression in Adults
  • BBC Health: Depression in Children
  • PDR Health: Depression
  • Depression Today
  • MyDepressionConnection.com
  • Everyday Health: Depression Center
  • Healthline: Depression
  • Take on Depression (for major depressive disorder)
  • All about STAR*D, the largest-ever depression study
  • Depression Guide
  • Depression Is Real
  • Help for Depression
  • Living with Depression at Yahoo! Health
  • ABC News On Call+ Depression section
• Bipolar Disorder
  • DSM-IV Criteria for Bipolar Disorder
  • DBSA's Bipolar Disorder page
  • NAMI's Bipolar Disorder page
  • BP Magazine (for bipolar disorder)
  • Bipolar Disorder Center at WebMD
  • Bipolar Disorder at Mental Health Matters
  • WebMD Bipolar Disorder Exchange
  • Medscape: Bipolar Disorder
  • BBC Health: Bipolar Disorder
  • PDR Health: Bipolar Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder Today
  • BipolarConnect.com
  • Everyday Health: Bipolar Disorder Center
  • Healthline: Bipolar Disorder
  • Take on Depression (for bipolar disorder)
  • Bipolar Beat (many interesting articles)
  • The Secret Life of Manic Depression by Stephen Fry
  • Bipolar Lives
  • Bipolar Blog
  • Bipolar Central
  • International Bipolar Foundation, based locally in Kearny Mesa
  • Understanding Bipolar Disorder, a free 88-page book from The British Psychological Society
  • Equilibrium (the UK-based Bipolar Foundation)
  • Bipolar Disorder Type 1 or 2: How to Tell the Difference
  • Bipolar I and Bipolar II - What's the Difference?
  • Bipolar World Cafe (online discussion group)
  • Bipolar Happens
  • UCSD Department of Psychiatry's Genetics Research Program for bipolar disorder
  • Web Resources for Bipolar Disorder
  • The Balanced Mind Foundation (for kids with mood disorders)
  • Parents' Medication Guide for Bipolar Disorder in Children & Adolescents
  • The Bipolar Guide
  • Facing Bipolar
  • Bipolar Disorder: Rapid Cycling and its Treatment
  • Guide to Bipolar Disorder
  • Talent Development Resources: Bipolar Disorder (recommended by Mark)
  • Use of Antidepressants in Treating Bipolar Disorder (recommended by Rob)
  • Bipolar Disorder Algorithms
  • Guidelines for the Management of Bipolar Disorder in Adults
  • Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorder (recommended by Rob)
  • ABC News On Call+ Bipolar Disorder section
• Anxiety and Relaxation
  • DBSA's Anxiety page
  • AnxietyConnection.com
  • Everyday Health: Anxiety Disorder Center
  • Healthline: Anxiety
  • Anxiety and Panic
  • Anxiety Disorders Association of America
  • WebMD Anxiety and Panic Disorders Exchange
  • Medscape: Anxiety Disorders
  • BBC Health: Anxiety, Panic and Phobias
  • PDR Health: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Anxiety at Mental Health Matters
  • Guided Audio Files to Practice Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
  • San Diego Phobia Foundation support groups (anxiety, phobias, panic, OCD, PTSD, social anxiety, depression)
  • Twelve short articles on anxiety-related topics, by Stanley Popovich
  • Buddhist Resources in San Diego County (recommended by Blair, for those pursuing Mindfulness)
  • ABC News On Call+ Anxiety Disorders section
• OCD, Hoarding, and OC Spectrum Disorders
  • OCD and Hoarding Resources (County of San Diego, State of California)
  • Southern California OCD Group
  • Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA) 12-step support group
  • The Peace of Mind Foundation for OCD
• Sleep and Sleep Problems
  • Sleep Hygiene
  • Sleep medication summary
  • Insomnia Medications
  • Sleepless in America
  • Sleep Deprivation
  • Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia
  • "Tired of Ambien? Meet the Sleep Medications of the Near Future"
  • Two-page report on insomnia from Consumer Reports
  • Eighteen-page report on insomnia from Consumer Reports
  • "How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?"
  • "Deep into Sleep"
  • The Effortless Sleep Method
    (DBSA San Diego does not specifically endorse this method. We are providing this link for your possible benefit but cannot take responsibility for its effectiveness or lack thereof.)
• Medication
  • MedlinePlus
  • Healthline: Drug Interaction Checker
  • PDR Health: Drugs and Supplements
  • Epocrates ONLINE drug and clinical reference
  • eMedExpert comprehensive information on prescription drugs
  • Quick Reference to Psychotropic Medications (provided by Errinn)
  • NAMI: Commonly Prescribed Psychotropic Medications (and a PDF version for convenient two-page printing)
  • Antipsychotic Comparison Chart (2008)
  • Drug Information
  • The Internet Drug Database
  • Drug Digest: click on "Check Interactions" for drug interactions
  • Drugs.com
  • Partnership for Prescription Assistance <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • RxAssist (patient assistance programs) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • RxHope (patient assistance programs) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • Psycho-Babble Medication by Dr. Bob
  • Ask a Patient (user feedback about medications)
  • Crazy Meds (irreverent but useful information about medications)
  • Updated recommendations on dietary restrictions with MAOIs from the medical literature (recommended by Blair)
  • The Good Drug Guide (recommended by Todd)
  • Mood Stabilizers: An Updated List and Links (recommended by Rob)
  • Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs
  • About Anticholinergic Side Effects, an important class of side effects from psychiatric medications
  • About Extrapyramidal Side Effects, an important class of side effects from psychiatric medications
  • Alternative Medications for Depression and Anxiety <---- alternative medicine
  • Bipolar Disorder Supplements <---- alternative medicine
  • Bipolar disorder vitamins, herbs, and supplements that may offer some help... <---- alternative medicine
  • HBC products for mood disorders <---- alternative medicine
  • Benzodiazepines
    • benzo.org.uk
    • Benzo Buddies
    • Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Support
    • "Tranquilizer Detox Withdrawal Can Last Years"
    • "My Favorite Mistake: Stevie Nicks"
    • "Drugs linked to brain damage 30 years ago"
• Non-Pharmaceutical Therapies and Treatments
  • Non-pharmaceutical management of depression in adults (A [Scottish] national clinical guideline)
  • Non-pharmaceutical management of depression in adults (Quick Reference Guide)
  • Treating depression without using prescribed medication (Booklet for patients and carers)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital's latest Cognitive Therapy Outpatient Programs brochure
    • Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital's COG IOP program brochure and flyer (both somewhat out of date)
    • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Self-Help Resources
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
    • Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital's DBT IOP program brochure and flyer (both somewhat out of date)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Recovery International (a.k.a. Abraham Low Self-Help Systems)
  • Recovery Innovations
  • Recovery Innovations of California (RICA)
  • WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan
  • Moodscope
  • above: talk therapies <----------------> below: physical/medical modalities
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy
    • What you need to know about Electroconvulsive Therapy, from the makers of the Thymatron ECT device
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • EMDR for treatment of trauma-related disorders
  • Referenced EEG (rEEG) for assisting clinicians in prescribing the correct medications
  • GeneSightRx for assisting clinicians in prescribing the correct medications
• Crisis Response
  • National Suicide Hotlines: call 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-888-SUICIDE or 1-877-SUICIDA
  • Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT): call 911
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 1-800-273-TALK
  • Access & Crisis Line: call 1-800-479-3339
  • California Youth Crisis Line: call 1-800-843-5200
  • Suicide: Read This First
  • Suicide Warning Signs
  • Children's Mental Health Services Emergency Screening Unit
  • Veterans Crisis Line <---- for veterans
• Local Treatment Facilities
  • Tri-City Medical Center Behavioral Health Services (North San Diego County)
  • Pomerado Hospital (North San Diego County)
  • Aurora Behavioral Health Care/San Diego (North San Diego County)
  • VA San Diego Medical Center (North San Diego)
  • Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital (Central San Diego)
  • Scripps Mercy Hospital (Central and South San Diego County)
  • San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital, "County Mental Health" (Central San Diego) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • UCSD Adult Inpatient Services Neuropsychiatric and Behavioral Medicine Unit (Central San Diego)
  • Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System (East San Diego)
  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital Behavioral Health Services (East San Diego County)
  • Paradise Valley Hospital (South San Diego County)
  • Bayview Hospital (South San Diego County)
  • Patton State Hospital (San Bernardino County)
  • above: hospitals <----------------> below: clinics and other treatment facilities
  • Mental Health Outpatient Clinics <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • UCSD Outpatient Psychiatric Services, "Gifford Clinic" (Central San Diego) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • Family Health Centers of San Diego (medical, psychiatric, and therapy for the <---- low-income/no-insurance)
  • Family Health Centers of San Diego At a Glance <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • First Avenue Counseling Centre (therapy for the <---- low-income/no-insurance)
  • Dental Care Resources in San Diego County (services for the <---- low-income/no-insurance)
  • Clinical Services at the San Diego American Indian Health Center (services for the <---- low-income/no-insurance)
  • Mood Disorder Counseling at Jewish Family Service of San Diego (therapy for the <---- low-income/no-insurance)
  • Clinical Services at the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego (therapy for the <---- low-income/no-insurance)
  • Low Cost Counseling in San Diego <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • Cognitive Therapy Institute of San Diego
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Center of San Diego
  • Applied DBT Clinicians
  • Family Support Center of San Diego
  • Alpine Special Treatment Center
  • BrightQuest Treatment Center
  • California Rehab Centers and Addiction Resources
  • Depression Support Group (Hope, Inc) at The Church at Rancho Bernardo
  • Community Research Foundation clubhouses, crisis houses, treatment facilities
  • Fact sheet on The START Programs (crisis centers)
  • Use the Community Research Foundation to search for crisis houses:
    • Click link above to open a new browser tab or browser window.
    • Select a Region from the menu.
    • Select "Short Term Acute Residential Treatment (START) (Crisis Centers)" from the Program Type menu.
    • Click Search.
    • Click More Info for details on any of the results.
• Housing and Social Services
  • 2012 SDHC Affordable Housing Resource Guide
  • 2012 Housing Inventory from the San Diego County HHSA
  • Independent Living Association
  • Service Providers (good for finding a board and care home)
  • Residential Care Homes (board and care homes)
  • Consumer's Guide to Licensed Board and Care Homes
  • Google search for board and care homes in San Diego
  • Homelessness Resources
  • Shelters and Emergency Housing: San Diego Area
  • Homeless Outreach Team
  • List of San Diego County Independent Livings
  • The Sober Living Network
  • Big Sister League of San Diego
  • Father Joe's Villages
  • Housing Matters
  • List of Homeless Shelters and related resources (provided by UCSD Medical Center)
  • Del Mar Shared Housing Program
  • Townspeople (housing)
  • ElderHelp of San Diego (independent living for seniors)
  • Courage to Call Web site and two-page flyer <---- for veterans
  • Veterans Village of San Diego <---- for veterans
  • Health Consumer Alliance
  • Help Lines and Crisis Intervention Lines (from Dr. Depp)
  • Local Mental Health Resources (from Dr. Depp)
  • Mental Health Resources (from Blair)
  • Community Crisis Resources
  • Exodus Recovery Incorporated
  • Exodus Recovery Brochure
  • 2-1-1 Information & Referral Search and 2-1-1 San Diego
  • Benefits.gov (benefits from federal and state governments)
  • County Medical Services (CMS) (funding for uninsured adult San Diego County residents) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • Low Income Health Program (LIHP) (funding for uninsured adult San Diego County residents) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • Benefits CheckUp (benefits for seniors with limited income and resources) <---- low-income/no-insurance
  • California Department of Rehabilitation
• Insurance, Disability, Legal
  • Covered California: the starting point for "Obamacare" in California
  • Health Insurance Basics
  • Medi-Cal home page
  • County of San Diego Guide to Medi-Cal Mental Health Services
  • Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
  • PCIP and MRMIP 2011 Application and Handbook
  • Disability Insurance Comparison chart
  • Disability Evaluation Under Social Security ("the Blue Book")
  • Social Security Benefits For Children With Disabilities
  • Social Security Disability
  • Access to Independence (recommended by Wendy)
  • Able-Disabled Advocacy (recommended by Margaret)
  • National Health Law Program
  • San Diego Disabled
  • Disability Secrets
  • Disability Rights California
  • Disability Benefits 101
  • Reasonable Accommodations
  • Advance Health Care Directives document plus fill-out form (from Rob)
  • background information on Psychiatric Advance Directives in California (from Rob)
  • Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law (recommended by Karen)
  • Disability Help Center
  • Binder & Binder Social Security disability advocates
  • Allsup Social Security disability representation
  • West Coast Disability Law Group LLP
  • Disability Benefits Alliance for help with SSDI
  • The Book on Social Security Disability, created by Disability Group/Social Security Law
  • Guide to Disability Claims
  • Social Security Disability Resources
• Volunteer and Employment Opportunities
  • Volunteer Match
  • Sharp Hospitals: Volunteer Opportunities
  • United Way: Volunteer Opportunities
  • San Diego Craigslist: Volunteer Opportunities
  • California Department of Rehabilitation
  • Job Accommodation Network
• Social Opportunities
  • Impact Young Adults, a social group for young adults with mental illness
  • San Diego Reader: Events
  • Sign-On San Diego: Entertainment Guide
  • Meetup Groups in San Diego
  • Meet in San Diego
  • City of San Diego Park & Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Services and their Quarterly Calendar
• Social Networks for Mental Health
  • Med Help
  • Daily Strength
  • Strength of Us (affiliated with NAMI)
  • Share Your Blues
  • Social Network of Care
  • MD Junction: Mental Health
  • WebMD Depression Community
  • WebMD Bipolar Disorder Community
  • WebMD Anxiety and Panic Community
  • No Longer Lonely (more a dating site than a social network)
• Consumer Blogs
  • MoodBlog
  • Knowledge Is Necessity, John M's blog
  • Chronicles of the Ordinary, photos and stories of vibrant individuals with mental illness
  • Bipolar Disorder Daily, Wendy M's blog
  • Bipolar Firsthand, Jillian S's blog
  • Hewes News, Libby H's blog
  • Writing Towards Happy, Michelle R's blog
• Articles
  • "Beyond antidepressants: There are other treatments"
  • "Is Ketamine a Game Changer for Severe Depression?"
  • Commentary: "Suicide Is an Illness" by Wendy McNeill
  • "The Role of Antidepressants for the Treatment of Bipolar Depression"
  • "Treatment-Resistant Depression: Management Strategies"
  • "Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder: A Review of Psychotherapeutic Approaches"
  • "Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder Share Common Genetic Cause" (recommended by Ed)
  • "A Journey Through Darkness" an excellent article about depression (recommended by Joe)
  • "Targeted Therapy Halves Suicide Attempts in Borderline Personality Disorder"
  • "Advice to the Jobless on Getting Health Coverage"
  • "Brains of depressed people handle pain differently"
  • "Antidepressants may not help fight bipolar disorder"
  • "Millisecond Brain Signals Predict Response to Fast-Acting Antidepressant" (recommended by Michelle)
  • "How to Help Yourself If You Are Depressed" (recommended by Bob)
  • "Get Healthier and Happier"
  • "Rapid Cycling and Mixed States as 'Waves'" (recommended by Karen)
  • "The Bipolar Puzzle: What Does It Mean To Be a Manic-Depressive Child?"
  • "Study links bipolar disorder with older fathers"
  • "Modafinil augmentation of antidepressant treatment in depression."
  • "Pharming Today"
  • "Myth of the antipsychotic", an article about dangers associated with antipsychotic medications
    Read this article with an open mind; you may want to ask your psychiatrist about it. And don't stop taking your meds because of what you read here, unless your psychiatrist advises you to do so.
  • "Top Doctors 2013 (Psychiatry)", from San Diego Magazine
    You may see some familiar names here. But be warned: This article may be advertising rather than the results of unbiased research.
  • "Older. With bipolar." an article from BP Magazine featuring our own David Zagorsky