Mental Illnesses

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. Learn more about common mental illnesses using the resources below.

Databases:

• Britannica School: Britannica Online School Edition gives teachers and students instant access to four complete encyclopedias and other resources that ensure consistency with classroom topics and age-appropriate language. This unique reference and learning suite also offers high-quality online learning materials that have been developed by teachers and curriculum experts. Designed for all levels of learning from elementary school through high school, Britannica Online School Edition offers students an easy-to-use gateway to the vast resources of Encyclopedia Britannica. 

• Gale in Context - Middle School: Gale Research in Context is for student researchers in grades 6-8. Cultures, government, people, U.S. history, sports, world history, geography, literature, science, and social issues relevant to middle school students as well as science experiments. 

• Middle Search Plus: Middle Search Plus is great for finding information about famous people with mental illnesses! It contains full text for more than 150 popular middle school magazines. All full-text articles are assigned a reading level indicator (Lexiles). Full text is also available for thousands of biographies and historical essays. 

• World Book Student: Tailored for students in elementary and middle schools, Student includes all the articles from the print versions of the World Book Encyclopedia, plus thousands of additional articles, learning resources, and research tools.

Websites:

• American Psychiatric Association (APA): The American Psychiatric Association is the premier psychiatric organization that advances mental health as part of general health and well-being.

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA): ADAA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through the alignment of science, treatment, and education. 

• American Psychological Association: The APA, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, elevates the public’s understanding of, regard for, and use of psychology. 

• Autism Society: 55 years and counting, the Autism Society, including our nationwide network of affiliates, connects people to the resources they need through education, advocacy, support, information and referral, and community programming. 

• Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

• International OCD Foundation: The IOCDF's aim is to increase access to effective treatment through research and training, foster a hopeful and supportive community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them, and fight stigma surrounding mental health issues. 

• Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health: Medscape is the leading online global destination for physicians and healthcare professionals worldwide, offering the latest medical news and expert perspectives; essential point-of-care drug and disease information; and relevant professional education and CME. 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. 

• National Center for PTSD: The world's leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress.

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

• Tourette Association of America: Founded in 1972, the Tourette Association of America (formerly known as the Tourette Syndrome Association) is the only national organization serving the community, and works to raise awareness, advance research, and provide ongoing support to patients and families impacted by Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders.