These organizations, campaigns, and Web sites offer materials that can be used to educate the public about mental health and violence prevention. Although we have categorized each organization, campaign, and Web site according to its primary purpose, many of the organizations and Web sites on this list offer resources in several areas.
Mental Health Resources
Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/child/) helps families, educators, health care providers, and young people recognize mental health problems and seek or recommend appropriate services. It also strives to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems. Public education materials available from this campaign include fact sheets on autism, anxiety disorders, conduct disorder, and depression and publications on systems of care and a glossary of mental health terms.
KidsHealth (http://www.kidshealth.org/index.html) is a Web site providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth has separate areas for kids, teens, and parents - each with its own design, age-appropriate content, and tone. The TeensHealth section includes information on mental health topics including bipolar disorders, eating disorders, fears and phobias, anger management, dating violence, rape, bullying, and the abuse of tobacco, alcohol, steroids, and other drugs.
National Mental Health Information Center/Center for Mental Health Services Consumer/Survivor Mental Health Materials (http://store.mentalhealth.org/consumersurvivor/publications.aspx) offers public education materials including guides to help consumers understand, locate, and choose appropriate mental health services; fact sheets on issues including anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and eating disorders; publications on legal issues and the rights of those with mental health issues; and materials designed to alleviate the stigma often associated with mental illness. The National Mental Health Information Center/Center for Mental Health Services is funded by SAMHSA.
National Mental Health and Education Center (http://www.naspcenter.org/index2.html) offers resources for teachers, principals, parents, school psychologists, and policymakers on a wide range of mental health issues including safe schools, discipline, attention deficit disorders, and social skills. Many of these resources are available in Spanish as well as in English.
Substance Abuse Prevention Resources
The Cool Spot (http://www.thecoolspot.gov/) is a Web site, sponsored by SAMHSA and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that provides facts on underage drinking and effective ways to avoid alcohol using language and a format that appeals to young people.
A Family Guide To Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free (http://www.family.samhsa.gov/) is a public education Web site supporting the efforts of parents and other caring adults to promote mental health and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs among 7- to 18-year-olds.
Girl Power (http://www.girlpower.gov/) is a U.S. Department of Education public education campaign designed to:
- Increase public awareness among 9- to 13-year-old girls and their caregivers about the following:
- Risks and consequences associated with alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use
- Health issues associated with poor nutrition, including calcium deficiencies and eating disorders
- Health issues associated with lack of physical activity
- Risks and consequences associated with early sexual activity, including pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases
- Mental health problems, including depression and suicide.
- Increase knowledge among girls and their caregivers about how girls can develop positive interpersonal and social skills, and to provide resources and materials for girls to achieve these skills.
- Demonstrate the benefits to girls and their caregivers of developing competencies and increasing self-efficacy (e.g., developing interests and abilities in their education, the arts, sports, and other activities).
The Girl Power Web site includes public education materials on these issues for parents and other adults as well as online materials and activities for girls on a range of issues, including personal health, technology, and decision-making.
Media Campaign Resource Center for Tobacco Control (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/mcrc/index.htm). The Media Campaign Resource Center (MCRC) at CDC offers hundreds of television, print, radio, and billboard ads that can be used by local programs. MCRC also offers information on using these ads to create a tobacco prevention advertising campaign and advice on issues such as choosing the best ads for a target audience, localizing advertisements, and negotiating with media outlets.
National PTA (http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/index.asp) The Parent Involvement section of the National PTA Web site contains information for parents on how to be involved in their children’s education and how to talk to them about issues concerning sex, violence, bullying, and personal health. It also contains information on how parents can help children succeed academically and avoid using alcohol and other drugs.
NIDA for Teens (http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/) is a Web site created by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to educate adolescents ages 11 through 15 (as well as their parents and teachers) on the science behind drug abuse. The site contains science-based information about how drugs affect the brain and body so that young people will have better information to make healthy decisions. Animated illustrations, quizzes, and games are used to clarify concepts, test knowledge, and make learning fun. The site includes a glossary, facts on drugs, and real stories from teens who have struggled with drug abuse and addiction.
¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! (http://www.soyunica.gov/new/default.aspx) is a bilingual SAMHSA initiative for Hispanic girls ages 9-14 and their mothers and other caregivers that helps them build and enhance their own self-esteem, mental health, decision-making and assertiveness skills, and to prevent the harmful consequences of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. The ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! project encourages cultural pride by emphasizing the strengths inherent in the Hispanic culture initiative. Materials include posters, activity books, brochures and a Web site for 9- to 14-year-old girls. The materials address belonging and adaptation, teach assertiveness and decision-making skills, and provide tips on becoming healthy and successful young adults.
Violence and Bullying Prevention Resources
15+ Make Time to Listen, Take Time to Talk (http://www.mentalhealth.org/15plus/) is based on the premise that parents who talk with their children about what is happening in their lives are better able to guide their children toward more positive, skill-enhancing activities and friendships. The campaign provides practical guidance for parents and caregivers on how to strengthen their relationships with their children by spending at least 15 minutes of daily, undivided time with them and focusing on them. Topics include bullying, mental health, depression, and fatherhood. A variety of resources are available online and for order from SAMHSA including fact sheets, reports, parent kits, games, and other materials that can be used by parents and programs.
School Violence Prevention (http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/schoolviolence/default.asp) is a SAMHSA Web site that includes a wide range of public education materials on violence and violence prevention for youth and their families. These include materials that help young people recognize warning signs of violent behavior and get help before they become involved in violence and deal with anger. Resources for families include materials on helping children cope with fear and anxiety; fact sheets on violence, bullying, and mental health; and parenting guidebooks. Some of these materials are also available in Spanish.
Stop Bullying Now Campaign (http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp),
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers educational materials for children, parents, educators, and health professionals. These include “webisodes,” (short animated stories about bullying) and information for children and parents helping them recognize, respond to, and prevent bullying.
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (http://www.safeyouth.org/) was established by the Federal Working Group on Youth Violence and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Center provides parents, teenagers, health care providers, law enforcement officials and other professionals and concerned citizens access to critical information regarding youth violence and about the effective strategies to control and prevent such violence. The Center operates a bilingual (Spanish/English) toll-free telephone information line (1-886-SAFEYOUTH or 1-886-968-8484). Materials for parents include information on dating violence, gangs, bullying, depression, suicide, substance abuse, and media violence. Materials for teens include fact sheets on bullying, conflict resolution, depression, hate crimes, gangs, suicide, dating violence, and anger management.
