Mental Health Resource Center

Welcome to the Mental Heath Resources Menu for Kaiser Permanente.

In the menus below, you can find resources on most mental health topics (including a menu for information in Spanish), podcasts for listening to information on a variety of health topics (including mental health), additional web sites on the Internet, and a more comprehensive listing of behavioral health Kaiser Permanente pamphlets (including some in Chinese). There are also a number of links to resources specific to the mental health needs of children and adolescents.

KP.org: Contact your Psychiatrist or Therapist On-line, and On-line Care

Non emergency issues about your care can be sent as a secure e-mail message directly to your provider in our clinics if you are registered with KP.org. You can also request refills of your medications and check the results of your laboraory tests. Click this link to view a video explaining KP.org.

Kaiser Permanente offers Healthy Lifestyle programs, licensed from HealthMedia Inc.®, available free of charge to all KP members who have registered and activated their account on kp.org. Each program provides a personalized action plan tailored to the member’s specific needs based on information they provide about their health and the specific condition. These action plans help members gain confidence, understand their role in their health, take steps to gain control over their condition and improve their lives. Follow-up e-mails and access to online tools are provided to support members with the program.

• Care™ for Diabetes - gain control over diabetes and get headed in a healthier direction
• Overcoming™ Depression - understand and take steps to manage the symptoms of depression
• Overcoming™ Insomnia - learn techniques to deal with insomnia and get a good night's sleep
• Succeed™ - total health assessment (also available in Spanish)
• Balance™ – lose weight (also available in Spanish)
• Nourish™ – eat healthy (also available in Spanish)
• Relax™ - reduce stress (also available in Spanish)
• Breathe™ – quit smoking (also available in Spanish)
• Care™ for Pain – manage pain
• Care™ for Your Health – manage chronic conditions.

Four new featured health topics in Spanish have been launched on kp.org:

• Salud de la mujer (women's health): A guide to women's health including common health concerns, birth control options and safe and effective menopause treatments. Una guía para la salud de la mujer entre los cuales figura el de salud, el control de la natalidad y opciones seguras y eficaces tratamientos de la menopausia.
• Deje de fumar (quit smoking): Tools to prepare to quit smoking, cope with cravings, medications and resources. Herramientas para prepararse para dejar de fumar, hacer frente a los antojos, los medicamentos y los recursos.
• Depresión (depression): Basic facts, signs of depression, medications, treatment options and ways to manage and overcome depression. Hechos básicos, los signos de depresión, los medicamentos, las opciones de tratamiento y las formas de gestionar y superar la depresión.
• Resfriados y gripe (colds and flu): Tips to prevent colds and flu, home treatment options, medications and flu shot clinic locations (updated in September). Consejos para prevenir el resfriado y la gripe, las opciones de tratamiento en el hogar, medicamentos y vacuna contra la gripe clínica lugares (actualizado a Septiembre).

The Healthy Lifestyle programs may be accessed by visiting kp.org/healthylifestyles; for programs in Spanish visit kp.org/vidasana.

***kp.org account activation is needed to participate in these programs***

Kaiser Permanente Health Information Resources

• Mental Health Information and Web Sites - An extensive menu of information, web links, and pamphlets divided into topics which include specific mental health conditions, life events, and trauma.
• Información en Español - Just as above, but in Español (Spanish).

• Getting Back on Track: A Depression Overview - Take a "train ride" on this extermely informative guide to understand depression.
• Anxiety Videos
• Depression Videos
• Domestic Violence Prevention Services - Do you, or does someone you know, experience hitting, insults, threats, or screaming? Look here for telephone numbers, advice, information, handouts (some in Spanish), and videos.
• Health Education Catalog - Our Health Education Department offers classes on a large variety of topics including general and mental health, and also offers significant help to those seeking to quit smoking or make other healthy lifestyle changes.
• Dr. Peter Hendler's KP HealthCast - listen on your computer or on your I-Pod/MP3 player to programs about various health topics. There are programs available for mental health topics, and also some prgrams available in Spanish.
• Mental and Behavioral Health Resources for Children (Hayward/Union City Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department) - a large menu of mental health resources for parents, teens, and children.
• Guided imagery programs - Guided imagery is a type of relaxation exercise designed to engage your mind, body, and spirit. Guided imagery is gentle, but powerful.
• Mindfulness Podcast - (hosted by Peter Hendler MD) Guided relaxation recording with Psychiatric Nurse Pam Boyer (10 minutes) Great for your I-Pod or MP3 player.

Pages Created by Providers

• Self-Help Books (Paul Malkin LCSW) - A recommended list of self-help books for depression, anxiety, and relationships.
• Books about Divorce (Jane Brooks PhD) - A recommended list of reading for children and teens about divorce.
• Distorted Thinking (Steve Manitsas MD) - Descriptions of 15 styles of thinking that increase your suffering, with specific advice on how to turn those styles around.
• Negative Thoughts (Steve Manitsas MD) - Automatic negative thoughts can be stopped by using this worksheet. This is also known as "cogntive therapy."

Sleeping Problems

• Sleep (Steve Manitsas MD) - Describes sleep problems and how to get better sleep with or without medication.
• Sleep Tips (David Ringo MD) - Tips and Information about sleeping problems.
• Childhood Sleep Problems (Jane Brooks PhD) - Understanding your child's sleeping problems.
• Insomnia Podcast (hosted by Peter Hendler MD) - Listen to a discussion with Psychiatric Nurse Pam Boyer about sleep problems and how to address them (21 minutes).
• Sleep Apnea Podcast (hosted by Peter Hendler MD) - Listen to a discussion with Douglas Tapper MD about Sleep Apnea (19 minutes).

Mental Health Information on the Internet

This section provides links to a number of health information pages on the Internet. We consider these sites to be reputable and encourage you to make use of the information they provide. Additional links are included in the Mental Health Information and Web Sites site.

Guides for Patients and Families from the Expert Consensus Guidelines: Guides for Patients and Families web site.

These portable document format (pdf) files require that you have installed an Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most web browsers already include this feature. If you are unable to view these links, you may download a free reader by clicking here.

• Bipolar Disorder 2004
• Disturbio Bipolar en Español 1996
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• Treatment of Dementia and Agitation: A Guide for Families and Caregivers
• Depression During the Transition to Menopause
• Depression in Older Adults - with a large print version
• Major Depression During Conception and Pregnancy
• Postpartum Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Psychiatric and Behavioral Problems in Mental Retardation: Resource Guide

Bipolar Disorder Internet Sites

• PsychEducation.org - Information about and resources for Bipolar II Disorder, presented by Jim Phelps, M.D.
• A printable mood chart (Microsoft Word) from Jim Phelps's PsychEducation.org Bipolar II Disorder site.
• Harvard Bipolar Research Program - More information about Bipolar Disorder.

Collaborative Practice Divorce Resources

• Collaborative Practice California - Divorce Shouldn't be a Battle: No Court, No Casulaities
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals - a different way to divorce

Mental Health of Teens and Children

• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder - The nation's leading non-profit organization serving individuals with ADHD.
• SchwabLearning.org - A parent's guide to helping kids with learning difficulties.
• SandraRief.com - A site that is geared towards providing educators and parents with guidance, strategies, and resources to raise achievement and ensure the success of ALL students (including those with ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and other special needs).
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Check out "Facts for Families."
• Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders - Information for parents whose children are experiencing symptoms of emotional disorders and use of medication.

Other Mental Health Internet Sites

• SafeTips - Useful safety information from A to Z, from the Naval Safety Center.
• The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation - An organization providing support and information for those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
• Depression Central - Dr. Ivan's "Internet clearinghouse" for information on all types of depressive disorders is provided here because of the richness of the sites listed, not as an endorsement of some of his advertisers.
• Schizophrenia.com - is a great website with both basic and in-depth information about Schizophrenia, including this section with Audio and Video Files on Schizophrenia and Related Issues and more videos on their news blog.
• www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol - Accurate, up-to-date information on health issues affecting Hispanic seniors is now available online in Spanish (Español) from the National Institute on Aging. Includes information on Alzheimer's Disease and depression.

Internet Sites about Smoking

• WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative - The World Health Organization.
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents the Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS).
• Health Effects of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke by The California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).
• American Lung Association -Tobacco Control - Quitting Smoking Index.
• Tobacco Cessation Guideline - Although primarily aimed at helping doctors educate patients, much of the material is helpful to anyone trying to quit smoking.

Internet Sites about HIV testing

• Think you can tell who is Pos or Not? Check out “Pos or Not” - an online viral game developed by mtvU, MTV Networks' Peabody & Emmy Award-winning 24-hour college network, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with POZ Magazine. Play the game at http://www.posornot.com and give your feedback to the creators.

Informational Pamphlets for Behavioral Health

Items marked "pdf" (portable document format) require that you have installed an Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most web browsers already include this feature. If you are unable to view these links, you may download a free reader by clicking here.

General Information

• Mental Wellness (pdf)

Mental Health Conditions

• Understanding Bipolar Disorder (pdf)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (pdf)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Information & Treatment Choices (pdf)
• Understanding the Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression (pdf)

Self-help

• Multifit: Psychosocial Questionnaire (pdf)
• Managing Your Depression (pdf)
• Antidepressant Medication (pdf)
• Anxiety (pdf)
• Do You Have Panic Attacks? (pdf)
• Mind Body Medicine Programs (pdf)
• Is Stress Making You Sick? (pdf)
• Insomnia (pdf)
• Completing an Advance Health Care Directive (pdf)

Addictions

• Alcohol and Other Drug Problems (pdf)
• Alcohol: Healthy or Harmful? (pdf)
• Marijuana, Hallucinogens, and Inhalants (pdf)

Life Events

• Depression and Seniors (pdf)
• Feelings of Suicide (pdf)
• Loss of a Loved One (pdf)
• Separation and Divorce (pdf)

Violence and Domestic Abuse

• Healthy Ways to Manage Your Anger (pdf)
• Acquaintance Rape (pdf)
• Emotional, Physical, and Sexual Abuse of Children and Teens (pdf)
• Everyone Deserves a Safe Relationship (pdf)
• Find even more pamphlets and information in Engish and Spanish at Domestic Violence Prevention Services

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia Nervosa (pdf)
• Bulimia Nervosa (pdf)
• Binge Eating Disorder (pdf)

Chinese Language Information

• Depression 憂鬱症 (pdf)
• Eating Disorders 飲食失調 (pdf)

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

This site may contain links to other web sites outside of www.permanente.net. Kaiser Permanente has no control over the content or the availability of these sites, and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. Web links are provided as an educational tool, and should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. A link or reference to a web site should not be construed as an endorsement of the site or its contents. Any medical content that you feel may be important to your health should always be discussed with your Kaiser Permanente physician.