Books
Books on bipolar and depression:
· The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know
Highly recommended. Written in clear, straightforward language for patients and families. Explains symptoms from the perspectives of the patient, family members, and doctors. Provides guidance on accepting the diagnosis and on treatment and self-management strategies.
· Break the Bipolar Cycle
Excellent. An informative, practical guidebook designed to help patients overcome specific difficulties associated with bipolar spectrum disorder.
· Surviving Manic-Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families and Providers
An excellent informational resource about the current state of knowledge about bipolar disorder written for the lay public. Written by the psychiatrist who founded the Treatment Advocacy Center.
· Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder by Julie
Written specifically for the partner of a person with bipolar disorder. Identifies coping and communication strategies that do and don’t work, as well as typical behavioral problems that arise. More useful for people with experience living with bipolar, not as the first book to get.
· The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression.
Excellent for uni-polar depression. A comprehensive resource written by a professional writer with major depression.
· The Bipolar Child
Classic autobiographical book:
· An Unquiet Mind: a Memoir of Moods and Madness
Outstanding personal account. Written by a psychology professor at Johns Hopkins about her personal experiences and insights into bipolar disorder. A leading expert in the field.
Other books on specific topics:
· When Someone You Love is Depressed: How to Help your Loved One Without Losing Yourself
· I Am Not Sick and I Don’t Need Help!
Support Organizations with Local Chapters and Programs:
o Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
o National website: www.DBSAlliance.org
Information on mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, suicide prevention, etc.
o San Francisco chapter (DBSA – SF) website: www.dbsasf.org Phone: (415) 995-4792
List of Support Groups for patients and friends/family
o National Alliance for the Mentally ill (NAMI)
o National website: www.nami.org
o California website: www.namicalifornia.org
o San Francisco chapter website: www.namisf.org
Phone: (415) 905-6264
óóó Family to Family Education Program (12 week course covering mental illnesses and treatment, problem solving and communication skills, self care, etc.). No fee. Offered every Spring and Fall in San Francisco. Call to check schedules in SF or neighboring Bay Area chapters.
o Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center website:
http://www.edreferral.com/Support_Groups_for_Eating_Disorders.htm#CALIFORNIA
o Depression and Recovery Group website:
DRG (Depression Recovery Group) offers free chat meetings with a certified specialist with different focuses (uses WebEx conference calling where you view them only)
Emergency Resources in San Francisco:
Mobile Crisis Unit: (415) 255-3610 - Mental health professionals will come to the home to evaluate the need for hospitalization during a crisis.
Hours: 9 am to 11 pm – Monday-Friday; 12 to 8:30 pm – Sat., Sun, Holidays
After Hours: Call Suicide Prevention: (415) 781-0500 or 911 for other emergencies
Other Websites for Specific Issues:
o Social Services in San Francisco
Family Service Agency of SF website: http://www.fsasf.org/svc_adult.html
FSA provides case management and various programs to individuals and families struggling with a mental illness.
o Comprehensive information about mood disorders and medications on the web:
http://www.healthyplace.com/ has videos on depression and some resources for free/cheap medication/prescriptions as well as a listing of many different psych medications that appears very informative (also under other information tab)
o Treatment Advocacy Center
o Bipolar Significant Others
The BPSO Public Pages provide information and support on many topics for the families, friends and loved ones of those who suffer from bipolar disorder (manic-depression).
o Job Accommodation Network
Information about the Americans with Disabilities Act for mental illnesses
o Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security and Disability Resource Center website: http://www.ssdrc.com/
This website provides information on the federal government's two disability benefit programs: SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance).
Covered topics include disability applications, denials on claims, the filing of appeals, and how the disability claim evaluation process works.
o Money Management
https://www.cccssf.org/education/publications.html
The Consumer Credit Counseling Services of San Francisco provides free workshops and publications for money management and financial literacy.
o Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Resource in California (if denied coverage)
· Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) 1-800-289-6574
http://www.mrmib.ca.gov/MRMIB/MRMIPBRO.pdf [Note: It takes a long time to download this file.]
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