The Annual Wildly Comprehensive Mental Health Resource Guide
For everyone aged 4-94!
Amanda Stern
May 21, 2025
Hello friends,
Every year, I create a free resource in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. I try to over-deliver. I hope I’ve succeeded.
This work takes hundreds of hours every month, and many more dollars to run. If you believe in this work and think it deserves sustenance, please consider upgrading as a show of support. Neither the newsletter nor I can carry on without your continued help. Thank you! 🙏
Table of Contents
WILDLY COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES!
What started as a modest list of resources soon outpaced my expectations. Take your time. There's a lot here.
I’ve included TWO playlists at the very end.) One is to help you cry, and the other is to help you feel happy.
👧🏽 BOOKS FOR KIDS
Every May, PENGUIN YOUNG READERS sends a dedicated email announcing its robust mental health titles. Here’s a sampling:
This exploration of mixed and wide-ranging emotions is presented in illustrated vignettes and beautifully articulate text. Each spread portrays a specific scenario involving a child and a phrase that reminds readers (young and old) that not all feelings can be summed up in a single word, or occur singularly.
This breathtaking, page-turning graphic novel is a supernatural survival story in which a grieving teen finds himself in a haunting alternate reality—the frightening embodiment of his depression, for fans of Stranger Things and Nimona.
A dazzling journey through memories past gives one girl the chance to save her grandfather, as long as she can find him in time. A graphic novel perfect for fans of Pashmina and Anya's Ghost.
✅ THE BASICS
TOOLKITS
Mental Health America's Back to Basics foundational knowledge about mental health & mental health conditions, and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern.
Resources for Primary School Children - Top tips for primary schools and others working with youth aged 4-11.
NAMI BASICS - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) Basics is a 6-session education program for parents, caregivers, and other family members who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms. This program is free to participants, 99% of whom say they would recommend it to others.
NAMI Classes - thousands of trained NAMI volunteers offer a variety of peer-led online (and IRL) programs.
How to Talk About When You're at a Loss: How to Talk About Mental Health Conditions with Different People.
Understanding Mental Illness - Learn about the different disorders
WARNING SIGNS
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) lists the signs and symptoms that might signal a mental health condition
Seize the Awkward - Concerned about a friend? Look here.
Psychiatry.org - Warning signs and how to take action and get help
Suicide is Preventable - Know the signs. Find the words. Reach out.
CRISIS LINES
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.TALK (8255)
Contact the Bring Change to Mind Crisis Text Line - Text BC2M to 741741.
NAMI Helpline for Young Adults & Teens: Call 1-800-950-6264, chat, text "Friend" to 62640, or email [email protected] to connect with us.
SCREENINGS:
WORKSHEETS
PRACTICES, MEDITATION & EXERCISES
CRISIS LINE ALTERNATIVES
Remedy Live - Using technology to provide real-time, online crisis support to anyone who reaches out. Our compassionate, trained SoulMedics team is available 24/7, ensuring that help is just a click away. They believe that every conversation has the potential to change a life.
Project Extreme - The primary objective of Project Extreme’s Helpline is to connect the right people with the right resources. From confused parents to troubled teenagers, the Helpline professionals offer texters practical advice, valuable resources, and everlasting hope.
🤐 THERAPY
SUPPORT GROUPS
NAMI Support Groups With over 40 Support & Social Groups, both family members and people living with mental illness are sure to find a group that fits.
Circles connect with others facing similar challenges in online groups led by professionals.
Psychology Today - Find a Support Group (type in your address, et voila!)
A BIG list of support groups. Find specialized support, including:
Pace is an invite-only social club for the real and honest. Meet over live video, bring the real you, and find common humanity through uncommon conversations.
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GROUP THERAPY
Grouport expert-led online group therapy.
Peer Partners Program Mental Health America’s Peer Partners program helps those struggling with our biggest challenges today- isolation and social exclusion.
Griefshare - This is for those who need support handling and living with loss.
ONLINE THERAPY
BetterHelp makes professional therapy accessible, affordable, and convenient — so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help anytime and anywhere.
TalkSpace is the most convenient and affordable way to connect with a licensed therapist from your device.
OnlineTherapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a complete happiness toolbox. Get matched with a qualified therapist within a minute.
Teen Counseling helps your child thrive with professional therapy.
7 Cups taps into the deep well of resources here. There are thousands of volunteer listeners.
PSYCHIATRY
MD Psychiatry Visits If you need someone to support you in facing life’s challenges, our carefully vetted, board-certified psychiatrists are here to help. Get the care you need at a time and place that works for you.
Cerebral meet with a telehealth prescriber or therapist who can diagnose and treat anxiety, depression, insomnia & ADHD with or without medication online.
Dr. On Demand, in a world that feels more overwhelming than ever, we make it easy for you to access mental health support. See the right therapist for you, right from your phone, on your schedule.
SLIDING SCALE
Open Path Collective offers affordable, in-office and online psychotherapy sessions between $30 and $60.
Better Help makes professional therapy accessible, affordable, and convenient — so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help anytime and anywhere.
THERAPY FOR BLACK AND INTERSECTIONAL COMMUNITIES
Inclusive Therapists make therapy feel simpler and safer for people in marginalized communities.
Melanin and Mental Health makes mental health more accessible and understood to black and Latinx/Hispanic communities.
Open Path Collective offers affordable, in-office and online psychotherapy sessions between $30 and $60.
My Well-Being This community of practitioners includes hundreds of high-quality, diverse experts committed to supporting you and your unique needs.
Therapists of Color, you no longer feel misunderstood when therapy looks like you.
Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
Inno Psych is a simple way to find your therapist of color.
Black Men Heal provides access to mental health treatment, psycho-education, and community resources to men of color.
Black Virtual Wellness Directory is the place to find a virtual Black therapist, doula, yoga teacher, mediator, and much more.
LGBTQ THERAPISTS OF COLOR
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network Advancing healing justice by transforming mental health for queer and trans poc.
LGBTQ Psychotherapists of Color is a social and wellness community where paying members can access group workouts, guided meditations, wellness salons and art workshops as part of the healing process.
THERAPY RESOURCES FOR ASIAN AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES
Sistah Afya Community Mental Wellness is a social impact business that provides mental health education, therapy, community support, and resources to help young adult Black women.
Asian American Psychological Association is an organization for professionals that has fact sheets on brain injury, trauma and violence exposure, intimate partner violence, student-adjustment challenges, bullying and suicide.
Asian American Psychological Association Provider Directory - connecting Asians and Asian Americans to culturally aware providers who are prepared to meet your needs.
Asians do Therapy Reducing Stigma and Increasing Accessibility.
Asian Mental Health Collective is a place that aspires to make mental health readily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.
Latinx Therapy was founded in 2018 with the mission to de-stigmatize mental health in the Latinx community. You can find a directory of mental health therapists and other helpful information for the Latinx community.
THERAPY FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
LGBT National Help Center serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning community by providing free & confidential peer-support and local services.
Trevor Space is an affirming international community for LGBTQ young people ages 13-24.
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network advancing healing justice by transforming mental health for queer and trans poc.
SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES
Somatic Experiencing is a potent method for resolving trauma symptoms and relieving chronic stress. Developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine.
Psychedelic Directory: Explore and connect with people, organizations, and communities in the psychedelics space.
What is Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing EMDR? A first-line treatment for trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
EMDR Directory: Find an EMDR Therapist in your region.
💣 WAR
THERAPY (IN AMERICA) FOR THIS CURRENT POLITICAL MOMENT
Ruha Palestine Mental Health Response
Calamansi Counseling Culturally Integrative Therapy + Community Care
Crisis Response Therapists are trained for crisis.
Swana Therapist Collective is dedicated to increasing visibility and highlighting the services of Southwest Asian (“Middle-Eastern”) & North African therapists worldwide.
Repose Therapy for Jewish Communities
Refuat Hanafesh Stories and live conversations.
Prizmah: A Big list of Jewish mental health organizations
OK Clarity Get matched with Jewish Therapists, coaches, psychiatrists, nutritionists, and more.
😢 THERE ARE MULTIPLE KINDS OF TRAUMA
🏠 FAMILIES
HOW-TOs FOR FAMILIES
Children's Center for OCD and Anxiety has comprehensive, user-friendly information on the full range of anxiety disorders: how to identify symptoms, find effective treatments, and prevent anxiety from taking hold in a child's life.
FOR TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network is raising the standard of care to improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States.
Understanding Trauma and Promoting Resilience in Vulnerable Children. The science of resiliency tells us that children are not born with resiliency but develop it over time through strong relationships with the important adults in their family and community.
🫶🏽 CONDITIONS
TRAUMA
The Wisdom of Trauma Film, by Gabor Mate
ANXIETY
A Primer on Childhood and Teen Anxiety: How to face and handle your anxiety. (from 2015, but still stands)
Little Panic: Dispatches from an Anxious Life is my book about growing up with an undiagnosed panic disorder, written from inside anxiety.
Information on Social Anxiety and Other Anxiety Disorders
DEPRESSION
Cereal for Dinner, meeting you where you're at.
Every Day Health has a list of depression organizations, articles, and websites for more information and support.
National Network of Depression Centers is a wealth of excellent resources.
Project Healthy Minds browse by emotional state.
BURN OUT
📚 EDUCATION
Education Classes trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs to various community settings, from churches to schools to NAMI Affiliates. With the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.
NAMI BASICS is a 6-session education program for parents, caregivers, and other family members who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms. This program is free to participants, 99% of whom say they would recommend it to others. NAMI Basics is available both in person and online through NAMI Basics OnDemand.
The Mental Health Literacy Collaborative - mental health literacy for educators
The Madison Holleran Foundation - Suicide prevention for high school and college kids
🚌 SCHOOL
PARENTS
Mental Health Resources for Parents are online resources aimed specifically at parents of adolescents and young adults.
National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health is a nationwide advocacy organization with families as its sole focus.
Parents’ Guide to Getting Good Care answers the questions of parents whose children suffer.
TEACHERS
Breathe for Change 200-hour Digital Wellness, SEL, and Yoga Teacher Training For Educators and Community Leaders.
Teach for America Resources: Mental health resources for educators.
STUDENTS
Bring Change to Mind, raising voices and awareness about mental health in high school.
Student Mental Health Toolkit encourages wellness education as a community and helps to de-stigmatize mental health.
THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM
Professional Resources for Schools from wellbeing activities to toolkits and webinars for mental health professionals, and a range of resources to help you support the young people in your lives.
Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit on a mission to provide free mental health programs for any school, anywhere.
Transcend: Building Beyond the Limits of School Design. Here is what schools can do to support mental health.
SPACES | SERVICES
📖 WORKBOOKS
😷 PANDEMIC
COVID MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES (because it ain’t over for everyone!)
University of San Francisco Coping Resources COVID-19 Specific Resources.
Mental Health America Mental Health and Covid-19 Information and Resources.
FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
Responder Strong is an essential tool for essential work.
First Responders Children's Foundation provides financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardship due to tragic circumstances.
Wellness for Fire Fighters has numerous resources related to cancer, heart health and mental health issues in one central location.
The Battle Within is a 5-day healing journey for trauma endured in service.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR THERAPISTS
Society for Psychotherapy distress, therapist burnout, self-care, and the promotion of wellness for psychotherapists and trainees.
CMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) self-care resources for therapists.
National Library of Medicine: How therapists can diminish burnout symptoms through self-care.
PHYSICIANS
🖇 THE WORKPLACE
FOR EMPLOYERS
Mental Health America for Employers provides information to improve mental health in your workplace.
Corporate Wellness Magazine addresses the total health of your employees.
Understood the 5 ways to support employee wellness.
Therify personalized mental health resources to help you improve employee satisfaction, well-being, and belonging.
FOR EMPLOYEES
Mental Health America for Employees has information on caring for your mental health when facing complex challenges at work.
Thriver's physical and mental wellness activities to promote healthy habits throughout your workplace.
Workplace Mental Health sets the standard for mentally healthy workplaces by leading on best practices and innovation, leveraging strategic alliances, and developing and disseminating high-impact tools and resources.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FOR LEADERS
🦸🏻♀️ GENDER
🍴 EATING / BODY DYSMORPHIA
Do I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Take the Test.
♿️ DISABILITIES
🚴🏽 ATHLETES
👯♂️ FRIENDS
🎬 FREE WEBINARS
Psych Alive has made these webinars free for Mental Health Awareness Month.
OVERLOOKED RESOURCES:
⛑ MY FAVORITE MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS
Bring Change to Mind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health and raising awareness, understanding, and empathy.
Active Minds is one of the premier organizations impacting young adults and mental health.
Child Mind is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need to thrive.
The Trevor Project provides information & support to LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round.
Fountain House is fighting to improve health, increase opportunity, and end social and economic isolation for people most impacted by mental illness.
The JED Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive today and tomorrow.
Mental Health America believes that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process, and they're committed to addressing mental health B4Stage4.
📖 ONLINE COURSES
National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine offers continuing education for practitioners dedicated to being the best in their craft (anyone can take these courses, so long as they pay for them).
📆 ONLINE EVENTS
The Friends of the Semel Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental illness by supporting research to advance innovative treatments and sponsoring educational programs to raise awareness and erase stigma.
⁉️ WORKSHEETS / QUESTIONNAIRES
🎯 GAMES
You Feel Like Shit questions that help you practice self-care.
The Game of Real Life by Jesse Finkelstein is based on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy principles.
Florence is a video game about loss and learning to see from a different perspective.
Hidden Folks, for anxiety.
Kids Mental Health Games - 51 Essential Activities to help kids develop a strong mind, make better choices in life
The Talking, Feeling, Doing Game — Therapy Game for Kids to Improve Essential Life Skills
⚕️MY FAVORITE MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTERS & WEBSITES, & BLOGS
Psyche is a digital magazine from Aeon that illuminates the human condition through psychology, philosophy, and the arts.
Beautiful Voyager is a community and content space for overthinkers, perfectionists, and people pleasers.
The School of Life - Alain de Botton’s brilliant, wise, life-saving brainchild
Andrew Solomon’s articles on his website
Nedra Tawwab - a therapist and expert on boundaries
Mark Duplass - an actor who lives through his depression in public
🎤 FAVORITE PODCASTS
Be Here Now Network is a network of spirituality and mindfulness podcasts, including: Sharon Salzberg, Jack Kornfield, Alan Watts, Konda Mason & Tara Brach.
On Being hosted by Krista Tippett
Terrible, Thanks for Asking hosted by Nora McInerny
Hidden Brain, hosted by Shankar Vedantam
📕 FAVORITE BOOKS ON PSYCHOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH
Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon
My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind by Scott Stossel
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for A Hat by Oliver Sacks
Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Mindset by Carol Dweck
The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss by Mary-Frances O'Connor
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts
A Matter of Death and Life by Irvin D. Yalom, Marilyn Yalom
Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine
Little Panic: Dispatches from an Anxious Life (my memoir, which I feel weird about including, but I’m weird, so….) by Amanda Stern
39 MENTAL HEALTH READS from the New York Public Library (and seconded by me!)
Get Out of My Head: Inspiration of Overthinkers in an Anxious World by Meredith Arthur
A Therapeutic Journey: Lessons From the School of Life by Alain de Botton
For more titles, head over to the "HOW TO LIVE" BOOKSHOP
📗 PRACTICAL AND ACTIONABLE BOOKS ON MENTAL HEALTH
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns (proven techniques for a more positive outlook)
Freeing Yourself from Anxiety: 4 Simple Steps to Overcome Worry and Create the Life You Want by Tamar Chansky
Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Overcome Fears, Worries, and Phobias and Be Prepared for Life - From Toddlers to Teens by Tamar Chansky
The Worry Cure: Seven Steps to Stop Worry from Stopping You by Robert Leahy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in book form)
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
❓ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS EVEN YOU ARE EMBARRASSED TO ASK GOOGLE
📰 ARTICLES I'M READING
Making your children feel loved, and the power of parental listening, by Andrew Solomon
He Spurred a Revolution in Psychiatry. Then He ‘Disappeared’ by Ellen Barry
Bleeding at the Typewriter: The Potential Link between Creativity and Mental Health in Writers by Paige Rose Brockway
One Woman’s Six-Word Mantra That Has Helped to Calm Millions by Judith Hoare
The Parents Who Regret Having Children by R.O. Kwon
Jung’s Five Pillars to a Good Life by Arthur C. Brooks
The New Science of Death: There’s Something Happening in the Brain That Makes No Sense by Alex Blasdel
🍿 DOCUMENTARIES
Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, a film by Erik Ewers & Christopher Loren Ewers
The Teen Brain by Tiffany Shlain
Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness by Burton Bullers
Light in the Darkness - Living Well After Trauma by Daniel Gartzke
Grey Gardens - by the Maysles Brothers
🦸🏽♂️ MENTAL HEALTH WARRIORS I LOVE
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, has spent his career studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences and has translated emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and examine a range of treatments for traumatic stress in children and adults.
Nedra Tawwab is a Therapist, NYT best-selling author, and Relationship Expert who helps people create healthy relationships.
Andrew Solomon is a writer and lecturer on psychology, politics, and the arts; winner of the National Book Award; and an activist in LGBT rights, mental health, and the arts.
Non Wels is a mental health advocate, writer, and podcaster who founded The Feely Human Collective, a collaborative mental health community designed to empower us to grow our capacity for empathy, vulnerability, and emotional curiosity.
Maria Bamford, A comic and mental health advocate
Be Brave Press is dedicated to helping kids feel confident about their mental wellness.
Tamar Chansky is a therapist, anxiety expert, and prolific writer of books, and she also has a blog!
Lori Gottlieb is a therapist, author and journalist.
🎪 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING YOU CAN’T FIND?
GO to Eventbrite and type Mental Health or Psychology into the search bar.
📚 TEN BANNED BOOKS FOR US TO READ
1. Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe — Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images
2. Lawn Boy, by Jonathan Evison — Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
3. All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson — Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
4. Out of Darkness, by Ashley Hope Perez — Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
5. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas — Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie — Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term
7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, by Jesse Andrews — Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women
8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison — Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit
9. This Book is Gay, by Juno Dawson — Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content
10. Beyond Magenta, by Susan Kuklin — Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
⚕️VOLUNTEER
NAMI makes a meaningful difference in someone's life.
🎶 AND A LITTLE PRESENT FROM ME…
NEED TO CRY? BUT CAN'T? I MADE YOU A PLAYLIST. 👇
I couldn't add this version of this Mark Eitzel song on Spotify, so please listen/watch it here (the chorus is what gets me, Holy cow). It starts at the 1:00 minute mark.
NEED AN UPLIFT BUT CAN'T? I MADE YOU A PLAYLIST.
(I don't have the premium version of Spotify, so apologies in advance for the ads!)
👵🏽 MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE FOR SENIORS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Aging Together (local to VA, but filled with helpful information)
National Institute For Aging (public health information; resources)
AARP Mental Health Center (tons of amazing articles)
JOBS
Finding a Job: The latest articles on how to find a job
The Senior Community Service Employment Program is a community and work-based job training program for older Americans.
31 Good Jobs for Older People (an article)
Indeed.com (a search directory)
FREEBIES
DISCOUNTS
Happy Seniors tips on various topics related to the third age, information necessary to assist with problems and dilemmas related to aging, a forum for opinions, questions and answers.
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP YOU
Elder Helpers volunteers to carry groceries, run errands, give rides, entertain (i.e. sing, dance, and make you laugh!), help out with making phone calls, writing letters and reading, help with cleaning and help with cooking.
Friendship Works reduces elder isolation by connecting volunteers with older adults for friendship and support.
Love Our Elders fighting loneliness with love, one letter at a time.
VOLUNTEER SO YOU CAN HELP OTHERS
AmeriCorps Senior Program makes giving back your second act.
Silver Sneakers a list of organizations and worthy causes.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP ) engages persons 55 and older in volunteer opportunities to meet community needs.
Volunteer Forever (Volunteer Abroad): a list of ideas and links.
AGING AND INVISIBILITY
Do We Become Invisible as We Age? (article)
Invisible and At-Risk (abstract)
The Negative Effects of Elderspeak (article)
AGING IN RURAL REGIONS
AG State of Mind (resources for farmers)
The Rural Mental Health Toolkit (resources for North Americans)
Stigma Free Society is committed to combating the stigma of mental health
AGING WHILE BLACK
Why Black Aging Matters, Too (an article)
AGING WHILE ASIAN AMERICAN / PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI)
Mental Health America Fact Sheet (article about stereotypes and societal issues)
The NAAPIMHA Association to promote the mental health and well-being of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities
AAHI Resource Library (resources, publications, reports...)
South Asian Therapists (directory)
Asian Americans with Disabilities Guide (resource guide)
BLOGS / ONLINE MAGAZINES
Next Avenue (the most interesting of all the available magazines I've seen)
Suddenly Senior (articles, jokes, trivia)
The Best Corny Jokes (self-explanatory!)
Love to Know (a ton of topics and articles)
Third Age (a premier health and wellness site targeted to women of all ages and their families)
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age
Better Health While Aging: practical information for aging health and family caregivers
Senior Planet from AARP harnesses technology to enhance the way we age.
OR, Why Not Make Your Own Newsletter?? (Here are some ideas & templates)
TikTok - See: ("Grandfluencers")
Pinterest - make your own visual boards.
SENIORS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO "TECH"
Seniors’ Guide to Computers (people will have to print this out and bring it to their non-computing friends!)
SEX & DATING
The best sites for older adults (top 5 picks for online dating services)
The Joy (and Challenges) of Sex After 70 (podcast episode)
ADVOCATES
Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) advocates for policies and programs that improve aging in our communities as racially and ethnically diverse people, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people.
Justice in Aging helps to remove barriers for low-income seniors
Administration on Aging provided home and community-based services to millions of older persons
Senior Concerns assists thousands of seniors living alone or with family members with such issues.
Love of Gray To ignite a movement of Millennials to see and celebrate seniors by engaging them in an exciting and relevant way.
Long-term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, and similar adult care homes.
GROWING OLD IN AMERICA
It shouldn't be this hard (article)
Imagining a Better Way to Grow Old (article)
Can't Afford to Grow Old Here (article)
FINANCES
A Financial Guide for Seniors (a guide)
Money for Older Adults: tips for money management
Tax-Aide Program (free taxes)
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES
For Seniors From Senior Planet (a selection of online classes for people 60+)
25 Free Online Courses (from investing to coding, and from Yale to Oxford, learn something new)
Free Online Courses for Seniors (This is a great list, but they don't offer links, which is odd and frustrating. But you can Google them!)
GROWING OLD IN OTHER COUNTRIES
THE BEST PLACE TO GROW OLD
Three of the best countries in the Longevity Management Scorecard are led by women - Finland, Denmark and New Zealand. As women make up fewer than 10% of world leaders, it may be significant that more age-ready countries are also more gender progressive.
EVER HEARD OF GEROSCIENCE?
What the heck is Geroscience? (article)
MEDICAL NECESSITIES
Medical Baseline Program, also known asthe Medical Baseline Allowance, is an assistance program for residential customers who depend on power for specific medical needs. Learn more in a short video.
PRODUCTS FOR THOSE LIVING SOLO
Must-haves: 12 essential products (leading specialists in aging, eldercare and geriatrics choose necessary products for living alone, while also offering the best bang for your buck)
Elliq is an empathetic care companion that empowers happy, independent aging at home
BEST SMART-HOME DEVICES for LIVING SOLO
Plug-In Smart Outlet (to set your lights to a regular schedule)
Amazon Echo (voice control your music, ask it questions, set routines)
Smart Doorbell Camera (see a person at your door from head to toe)
Smoke Detector it speaks if it detects smoke or Carbon Monoxide.
IPad for Zoom and larger touch screen apps
Motion Sensor + Hub (this system requires two parts sensor and the hub). It alerts you when it detects unexpected motion
THERAPEUTIC TOOLS
Therapy at Home Workbooks (workbooks to untangle unhealthy relationships)
Somni Light (amber light to help you fall asleep faster)
Therapeutic Worksheets (on Pinterest. Must have an account)
INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION
Seniors Book Club (on Senior Planet)
Brain HQ (raising the bar on brain training)
Wordle is a word game (the New York Times)
Spelling Bee (the New York Times)
HOW TO SPOT AND AVOID ONLINE SCAMS
Don't Be Fooled (article)
Protecting Seniors from Internet Scams (article)
**My best advice to avoid getting scammed—if you get an email, a text, or a phone call from someone asking for access to any of your social security number, technology or finances, including phone numbers and email addresses, ask for their number, tell them you’ll call them back (if they say no, hang up) then, google the name they gave you, find the phone number for that person and CALL THAT PERSON.
ANXIETY
What Does Anxiety Feel Like? (symptom checker)
40 Mental Health Resources for Seniors (resource)
Overcoming Worry and Fear (article)
6 Ways to Calm Your Anxiety (list of options)
DEPRESSION
What is Depression? (article)
Fact Sheet (self-explanatory)
Crisis Text Line (self-explanatory)
Older Adults Depression: learn the signs and symptoms
Mental Health and Older Adults (a Webinar)
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (tools for wellness and treatment)
Healthy Ideas (a program model)
The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives, aka Pearls (a program), educates older adults about what depression is (and is not) and helps them develop the skills they need for self-sufficiency and more active lives.
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (find a psychiatrist)
DEPRESSION SCALES
(These are assessments used by clinicians, but are also helpful for patients to see and weigh their symptoms against)
COGNITIVE DECLINE
Memory Keepers is improving the quality of life for people impacted by memory loss.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Geriatric Pain provides quality resources and tools for pain care for older adults.
SERVICES
In-Home Care (a list of senior in-home care resources)
For Veterans (Information for Military Personnel & Their Families)
LIVING AT HOME
State Resources Guide Every state has an Aging Services Division dedicated to providing frail seniors with home and community-based services, so they can continue living in their own homes, instead of entering a nursing home.
Aging in Place ( guide to determine if aging in place is best for your loved one, and what programs, services and supports are available to help them continue living at home.
PACE The National PACE Association (NPA) advances the efforts of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE®). PACE programs coordinate and provide all needed preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so older individuals can continue living in the community.
LONELINESS
Conversations to Remember connects high school and college students with senior citizens to combat the epidemic of loneliness. Putting a smile on the faces of seniors, including those experiencing cognitive decline, and creating a bridge between seniors and youth.
A Cure for Disconnection (article) Loneliness is a problem of epidemic proportions, affecting millions from all walks of life. But while its roots are complex, remedies may be within reach.
Aging UnLonely empowers partners with programs that use the arts as an accessible and effective public health tool for older adults to create meaningful connections and improve health and well-being.
ELDER ABUSE
Elder Rights Article on safeguards
Adult Protective Services provides easy access to information on reporting suspected abuse nationwide.
What IS Abuse and Neglect? (summaries and a checklist)
What is Self-Neglect? (a checklist)
What is Financial Abuse and Exploitation? (a checklist)
Elder Justice (Webinars and Podcasts)
DRUG USE
Drug-Related Problems in Older Adults from the Merck Manual
Most Prescribed Drugs (an informative list)
The Dangers of Polypharmacy (an article on the dangers of using multiple drugs)
AGEISM
The Health Effects of Ageism (an article)
Ageism in Ads (an article)
PODCASTS FOR SENIORS
TRANS SENIORS
Lambda Legal Know Your Rights
GAY SENIORS
Sage Advocacy is making aging better for LGBTQ seniors
"Grandfluencers" on TikTok (article)
Promoting the Behavioral Health of Older LGBTQ ADULTS (PDF on behavioral health)
This is My Brave empowers individuals to put their names and faces on the true stories of recovery, mental health and addiction.
FOR CAREGIVERS
Health in Aging public education portal provides older adults and caregivers with up-to-date information on health and aging and access to a network of geriatric healthcare professionals.
HOUSING
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
MedLine Older Adult Care (articles about medical issues related to aging)
Nutrition (everything you needed to know about eating, but were afraid to ask!)
Meditation (how to begin; benefits of practicing)
Free Guide to Health and Wellness (not Wealth and Hellness, as I first wrote)
Senior Planet Communities (tons of different interest-specific communities)
Making Friends (How to find friends and fight loneliness after 60- in 5 steps!)
Events (curated activities, and other ways to meet like-minded people)
Meet-Up (meet people, make friends, find support)
Engaged a national effort to increase the social engagement of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers
TRANSPORTATION
Go Go Grandparent (service)
Mobility Managers (article)
FOR PEOPLE LOCAL TO NYC ONLY
NYC Department of Aging the New York City Department for the Aging’s information and referral contact center for older adults and their families.
Individual and Group Therapy for people 55+
WEBINARS
Aging Together (free webinars about mental health and aging)
SUICIDE PREVENTION
Resources for Older Adults (resources)
Suicide Resource Prevention Center resources for older adults
FAMILY SUPPORT & FOR CAREGIVERS
Health Library Articles (A library of health resources for caregivers and families)
VIRTUAL REALITY THERAPY
Reminiscence Therapy using Virtual Reality to re-experience meaningful parts of one's life
The Positive Effects of Reminiscence Therapy (an abstract)
ONLINE THERAPY
Blue Moon Senior Counseling tele-health online counseling
7 Cups offers a free 24/7 chat with trained volunteers and peers and paid therapy sessions with professional counselors.
Better Help is the “largest online counseling service worldwide.”
Talk Space provides personalized care for a myriad of mental health issues
Online-Therapy (affordable, top quality, CBT-based treatment)
Geriatric Psychiatry (Directory/Finder)
Geriatric Psychiatry Finder (Directory/Finder)
Zen Care (Therapist Database)
ABOUT THERAPY / TYPES OF THERAPY
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging evidence-based approach to the treatment of emotional distress.
TREATMENT & SUPPORT GROUPS
Senior Support Groups Different support groups exist for many health conditions, bringing together people who face similar problems to share problems and solutions.
Why a Support Group? You don't have to go alone if you're facing a significant illness or stressful life change. A support group can help. Find out how to choose the right one.
Behavioral Health Services Locator is a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.
Find the Best Support Group (searchable directory)
GRIEF
The Center for Grief & Loss offers specialized therapy for complicated grief, trauma and life transitions.
Death and Dying From the Griever's Perspective (abstract): elderly persons’ experiences of grief over the loss of family members
Here's What Older People Think About Death (an article)
The Grieving Brain (a book by Mary-Frances O'Connor)
PERFORMANCE
If you want to add resources, please put them in the comments! Thank you!
Until next week, I am…
Amanda
P.S. Thank you for reading! This newsletter is my passion and livelihood; it thrives because of readers like you. If you've found solace, wisdom or insight here, please consider upgrading, and if you think a friend or family member could benefit, please feel free to share. Every bit helps, and I’m deeply grateful for your support. 💙
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