Focusing on your physical health with EDS and HSD is important, but it is also important to spend some time taking care of your mental and emotional well-being. The stress of dealing with a chronic illness and the barriers to care that can occur can be damaging to mental health; the frustration from not being believed, and having pain dismissed, can cause a range of emotions from anxiety to depression. Below is a compiled list of global mental health resources to help you in building your own coping strategies. This resource library will continue to be developed and updated with more resources as we continue to research.
Mental Health Resources
Global Resources
- Creative Healing for Youth in Pain
- International Hotlines List
- International Resources – ISPMHN
- International Suicide Hotlines – Wikipedia
- General Mental Health/Wellbeing
- Global Resources – CheckPoint
- Global Resources – John Hopkins
- MiNDbank- WHO
Area Specific Resources and Hotlines
- Africa
- Americas
- Buenos Aires – Suicide Assistance Center
- Canada – eMental Health
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Latin America – Life Evaluation Center
- The United States- American Addiction Centers
- The United States – notOK app
- The United States – Online Counseling Apps
- The United States – Public Health
- The United States – Psychology Topics from APA
- The United States- Mental Health Condition List – MHA
- Asia
- Australia/New Zeland
- Europe
- Blackmentalwellness.com
- How to Recognize and Cope with Racial Trauma
- Melanin Meets Mindfulness
- Mental Health America
- Mental Health Resources for Young People of Color
- Race and Mental Health
- Surviving and Resisting Hate: A Toolkit for People of Color
- 5 Mental health Resources for Asian Americans Right Now
- 55 Mental Health Resources for People of Color
- Global Autism Project
- National Autistic Society
- Students with Psychosis
- IEPA – Early Intervention in Mental Health
- Strong365.org
- Could There Be an Overlap Between Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Autism?
- Supporting people with ADHD – Dr. James Kustow (Conference Recording)
- Autism, EDS & HSD – Dr. Baeza-Velasco (Conference Recording)
- Neurodiversity Q&A (Conference Recording)
From challenges of isolation to increased anxiety around the uncertainty of COVID-19, resources around coping and support can be found here.
Global Resources
- Alcoholics Anonymous – World Resources
- International List of addiction and substance use organizations
- Narcotics Anonymous- World Search
Chronic Pain Specific
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)- Resources for Living with Chronic Pain
- Multiple Chronic Conditions Resource Center- Chronic Pain
- The American Chronic Pain Association- Pain Management Tools
- The Clinical Consult (Podcast)-The Role of Psychology in Treating Chronic Pain
Africa
- Center for Research and Information on Substance Abuse CRISA Care Drop-In Center (CRISA)
- Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa
Asia
Australia and New Zeland
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF)- Help and Support by State
- Drug Info & Advice Line 1-300-85-84
- Australian Government – Australian Institute of Family studies- Web resources: Drug and alcohol abuse
- Youth Solutions -Drug and Alcohol Information Resources
- Health Navigator New Zealand
- New Zealand Drug Foundation – Information and Advice
- The New Zealand Government -Help with mental health and addiction
Canada
- Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Mental Illness & Addiction Index
- Families for Addiction Recovery – Resources
- Canada’s Remote Safe Consumption Line 1-888-688-NORS
- Government of Canada/ Gouvernement du Canada – Get help with problematic substance use/ Obtenez de l’aide concernant la consommation problématique de substances
United States of America
- Addiction Center
- Adolescents/Young Adult
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism- Treatment Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
United Kingdom
All Ages
MindEd– Free educational resource on age-specific mental health.
Children and Adolescent
List of international organizations from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Adolescent Mental Health– Key facts, information, and resources from the World Health Organization
The International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions– A non-profit from Switzerland
Resources for Teens & Young Adults– Jed Foundation
YoungMinds– UK charity with parents helpline and resources
College Age
24-Hour Hotlines – ULifeline (Specific to the United States)
Critical Mental Health Resources for College Students – Center for Online Education
Information and Scholarships for Students with Mental Health Problems
Mental Health is Health – Resources For You or For a Friend
Mental Health Resources for College Students –Maryville University
Self-Care Resources– Active Minds
Students with Psychosis– A group run by and for students with psychosis
Adult
Coming soon
Disclaimer: The Ehlers-Danlos Society is a 501(c)(3) health advocacy organization. The Ehlers-Danlos Society does not provide medical and mental health advice or treatment. Information provided by The Ehlers-Danlos Society is not a replacement for care from a doctor, therapist, or other health care provider. If you believe you may have a medical or mental health emergency, call your country’s emergency number immediately.
It is important to note that The Ehlers-Danlos Society does not have any ownership or direct financial interest in any of the specific organizations or groups listed above. There are no formal listing criteria, and The Ehlers-Danlos Society does not endorse, recommend, or certify any of these individuals. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, if you have resources that you would like included please contact us.
Photo credit: Affect the Verb
