There have been many recent efforts to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Mental health activists and those interested in changing the conversation about the subject will find the organization Active Minds not only intriguing, but crucial in combating negative associations common in discussions of mental health. Founded by Alison Malmon, Active Minds welcomes all, but specifically aims to...

William Shakespeare was happy to write about blood, bile, melancholy, and phlegm at length. During his time, balances of these four humors were thought to affect physical and mental health, along with defining individual personalities. These humors bred the emotions of anger, grief, hope, and fear, all of which can be found in Shakespeare's works in varying intensities. This digital exhibit from...

BAM! Body and Mind was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for kids and teachers. The site offers a fun, interactive approach to raising kids' awareness of health issues, and ways to make their bodies and minds stronger. Topics covered include nutrition and fitness, disease, mental health, peer pressure and relationships. The site is also a resource for teachers who...

In this 20-page report (released in July 2002) from the Working Paper Series at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, Professor C. Cybele Raver offers an extended discussion of the importance of young children's emotional development in preparing for school. Throughout the report, Professor Raver reviews a great deal of existing research in order to examine whether the...

MentalHealth.gov serves as a one-stop access point for information from U.S. government agencies on mental health problems and supporting resources. Written in approachable language, this project aims to educate the general public, as well as health professionals, policymakers, and school and community leaders. Here, visitors can find basic facts about mental health and information about a number...

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) sponsors a broad range of public outreach projects and research studies dedicated to providing a more nuanced and multi-faceted understanding of the immense complexity of the many mental health issues that affect millions of persons each day. Within the Find Support section of the site, individuals can learn...

Located at the National Institutes of Health, NIMH is focused on mental health: Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Alzheimer's Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Schizophrenia, etc. The site contains items of interest to the researcher (news & events, grants, contracts, & committees, and research activities) as well as the lay person (the public information section provides specifics...

Developed as a public service by the National Institute of Mental Health, this Web site contains a wealth of materials that will be very useful to mental health practitioners, parents, and those who work with young people in any capacity. First-time visitors will want to read the brief notes on the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as the section dealing with the treatment of...

For people who are living with a mental health condition, it can be most helpful to have access to high-quality and authoritative information. The National Institute of Mental Health provides such information on the publications area of their website, and visitors can make their way through fact sheets, booklets, and Spanish-language versions of these documents here. The topical fact sheets are...

The field of psychiatry is one that is vast and rather complex, and fortunately for academics and practitioners in the field, the Psychiatry On-Line Web site provides a well-conceived international forum for the discipline. Edited and maintained since 1994 by Dr. Ben Green (a licensed psychiatrist in the United Kingdom), the site features peer-reviewed articles, papers, and case reports from...