There are, of course, numerous other relevant resources available. This directory is designed as an introduction to some of the most useful online starting places for would-be advocates.

Advocacy and Support Groups

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) - Provided as a public service by NAMI, a private, non-profit "grassroots, self-help support and advocacy organization of families and friends of people with serious mental illness, and those persons themselves." Besides basic organizational information, the site includes links to over 1000 state and local family support group affiliates; a medical index on mental disorders, medications and research; guidance on public policy and legislative issues; resources on youth and mental illness; a helpline for referral to local services; and links to over a dozen categories of mental health-related Web sites.
  
  
• National Mental Health Association (NMHA) - Provided as a public service by NMHA, a private, non-profit organization with 330 affiliates, devoted to advocacy, education, research and service for the mentally ill. Counterbalances NAMI's family support group focus with strong public policy work on issues including parity of mental health benefits coverage, the juvenile justice system, the insanity defense, and the needs of unemployed, homeless and rural mentally ill Americans. Site includes events calendar, legislative alerts, an information center with fact sheets, position papers and FAQs about mental illnesses, and relevant merchandise and books. A help desk gives referrals to relevant organizations and services.
  
  
• Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law - Provided by a non-profit legal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, and dedicated to civil rights and human dignity for people with mental disability. Site has news alerts and analysis of federal laws, regulations, legislative proposals and court decisions, as well as links to disability and advocacy resources. The Bazelon Center provides technical support for and co-counsel on selected protection and advocacy cases; collaborates with local, regional and national advocacy and consumer groups; and publishes handbooks, manuals, issue papers and reports on key legal and policy issues in everyday language, available from the site. They do not handle individual requests for information and assistance, but they do provide links to relevant state and local groups.

Professional Organizations

• American Psychiatric Association--APA Online - Provided by this organization of 40,500 U.S. and international physicians who "specialize in diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses and substance abuse disorders." Has extensive clinical, research and practice resources for professionals, as well as consumer-oriented "Let's Talk Facts" for laypeople. Includes news releases, newsletters and events schedules; library and publications; material on public policy advocacy; information on the professional association itself; and links to related organizations.
  
  
• American Psychological Association--APA PsycNET - Provided by this scientific and professional organization of over 155,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students, in 50 subfields of psychology. Basic organizational information, including practice directorate (U.S. and Canada), continuing education calendar, buyer's guide to resources, conventions and conferences. Extensive consumer information, as well as professional information on journals, online mirroring of APA publications (some full-text articles), and online member access to Pro PsychCRAWLER, Drug Database, PsychINFO ABSTRACT Database and APA Journal Article Database. Links to related sites.

Government Agencies

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - Provided by NIMH, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIMH "conducts and supports research nationwide on mental illness and mental health." In addition to information about the agency, the site includes extensive public information on specific mental disorders, diagnosis and treatment; NIMH long range plans, research reports, publications and other resources (some in Spanish); press advisories and listings of meetings and conferences; information for scientists on NIMH grants and contracts programs; and information about research activities.
  
  
• South Carolina Department of Mental Health (DMH) - Provided by South Carolina's primary agency for inpatient and outpatient housing, care and treatment of citizens with mental disorders, and for public policy and public education on the relevant issues. Agency information includes administration and key staff, Mental Health Commission, staff presentations and publications, and agency job vacancies. Also descriptions of inpatient facilities, and information and county maps for Community Mental Health Centers. In addition, mental health information for S.C. citizens, a speakers bureau, a Licensed Professionals' search system, and links to independent advocacy organizations.

Mental Health Information Web Sites

• Internet Mental Health - Provided by Canadian psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip Long, M.D., as a "free encyclopedia of mental health information," for professionals, patients and their families and friends, students, support groups and the general public. Offers systematic descriptions of 50 most common mental disorders, with treatment options and relevant research. For therapists, offers systematic descriptions of 65 most common psychiatric medications. Online diagnostic programs for Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, and Substance-Related Disorders. Site includes Mental Health Magazine, with news, articles, booklets and other material collected from various Web and print sources. Links to popular mental health sites.
  
  
• Mental Health Net - Provided as a free service to professionals and laypeople by CMHC Systems, a behavioral healthcare management information systems software company based in Dublin, Ohio. Directed by Dr. John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Comprehensive online mental health service claiming 9,000 refereed resources, with 14,000 members for its forums, chat rooms and newsletter services. Has three major sections: Disorders and Treatments, with online books, community connections and professional services (e.g., Clinicians' Yellow Pages); Professional Resources, with numerous mental health links, all abstracted and rated; and Reading Room, linking to publications. Site accepts advertising and sponsorships. Search engine covers both this site and other mental health- oriented web sites.
  
  
• Psych Central: Dr. GROHOL's Mental Health Page - Provided by Dr. John M. Grohol, Psy.D., as a "one-stop index for psychology, support, and mental health issues, resources, and people on the Internet." Begun in 1992 as a list of relevant newsgroups, mailing lists and Web pointers, and now maintained by the staff of Mental Health Net (see above entry). Includes the following: index of listservs for support groups and professionals; index of psychology and support group newsgroups; Web pointers to general, professional and other psychological resource sites, each with brief description; Suicide Helpline, with information about various online and other suicide prevention services; monthly articles, free live chats, book reviews and FAQs. Also includes Best of the Web in Mental Health, which rates several dozen relevant sites on depth of content, ease of use, presentation of information and overall experience.