Forensic Psychology Guide: Mental Health Resources

In the field of forensic psychology, a strong knowledge of mental disorders, how they originate, and how they affect day-to-day life is essential to both clinical and legal aspects of the practice.  The Internet has proven to be a great way to find mental health resources, including the most up-to-date information on both medical research and recent jurisprudence.  But how do we separate the wheat from the chaff?  In this student’s guide to mental health resources, we point out quality mental health resources available on the web, with a focus on those resources that have greater application to forensic psychology and psychiatry.

Abuse

• The Child Abuse Prevention Network, based at Cornell University.
• Cornell also maintains the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect.
• The National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center is housed at the Medical University of South Carolina.
• Adult Survivors of Child Abuse is a nationwide support network.

Alzheimer’s Disease

• The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• The Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

Anxiety Disorders

• The National Institutes for Health discusses anxiety disorders.
• Coverage from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

• The official website of the Organization for Autism Research, a research group.
• The International Society for Autism Research gathers professionals in the field from around the world.

Bipolar Disorder & Depression

• A guide to bipolar disorder from the UK’s National Health Service.
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Association provides advocacy for mood disorders.
• The National Library of Medicine’s archive information on depression.
• The National Institute for Mental Health discusses depression.
• The official website of the Depression Alliance, UK.

Drug Abuse

• The U.S. National Institute for Drug Abuse is the drug abuse research section of the NIH.
• The Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland.
• A set of drug abuse prevention programs in the U.S. with their origins in scientific research.
• The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center at McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard University.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Guidelines related to PTSD from the American Psychiatric Association.
• The Mayo Clinic discusses PTSD.

Schizophrenia

• The Schizophrenia International Research Society is a major research organizations.
• Schizophrenia.com is a portal for research and support groups.

Miscellaneous Resources

• An essay on the psychological effects of AIDS, sponsored by Elon College.
• The National Institute of Mental Health discusses ADHD and related disorders.
• The Cognitive Science Society is one of the principal professional organizations within this interdisciplinary field.
• The American Psychological Association discusses the nature of violence.
• The National Alliance for Mental Illness is a major advocacy organization for mental illness research in America.
• MedlinePlus is an index of healthcare information sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
• Psychology and Crime News is a blog covering criminal psychology.

Image Source: Piper Report