General Mental Health and Wellness Agencies and Organizations
National
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
The mission of AACAP is to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research, and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists throughout their careers.
Mental Health America
Mental Health America (MHA) - founded in 1909 - is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to helping Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated health, behavioral health and other services for those who need them, and recovery as a goal.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Founded in 1979, NAMI has hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.
National Institute of Mental Health
This government agency is the lead federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders. The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. The website contains mental health fact sheets for the public, patient education materials, government reports, and information on current research.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. The website offers a searchable directory of mental health and addiction treatment facilities in the U.S.
Massachusetts
Jonathan O. Cole Mental Health Consumer Resource Center (Cole Center)
The Resource Center provides up-to-date educational materials, trainings, and media outreach to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. The Resource Center was founded and is staffed and operated entirely by volunteer mental health consumers who have themselves dealt successfully with mental illness.
Judge Baker Children's Center
Founded in 1917, Judge Baker Children's Center is a Harvard Medical School affiliate dedicated to improving the lives of children whose mental health problems threaten to limit their potential. Integrating education, service, research, and training, the Center is the oldest child mental health organization in New England and a national leader in the field of children's mental health.
Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
MAMH is an independent, non-profit organization and a leading advocate for the creation and funding of community based housing, education, health care, employment and treatment for children, adolescents, adults and seniors with mental illnesses or emotional disorders. We educate about mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment, we help individuals and families access services, and we promote healthy life styles and behavior through programs directed at children and adolescents.
Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP)
The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) is a system of regional children's behavioral health consultation teams designed to help primary care providers (PCPs) meet the needs of children with behavioral health concerns. Each team includes a child psychiatrists, licensed therapists, care coordinators and administrative support. We are available to assist any PCP who sees children or adolescents.
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dmh/
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health is dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults and children with serious and persistent mental illness or emotional disturbance. The web site provides facts about mental illness, applications for services, and information on state regulations and policies surrounding mental health.
Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL)
Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL) is an organization that promotes a strong voice for families of children and adolescents with mental health needs. PAL advocates for supports, treatment, and policies that enable families to live in their communities in an environment of stability and respect.
School Psychiatry Program and MADI Resource Center
Schoolpsychiatry.org is a joint project of the School Psychiatry Program and the Mood & Anxiety Disorders Institute (MADI) Resource Center, both of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Schoolpsychiatry.org is committed to enhancing the education and mental health of every student in every school.