Health Tools and Resources

What is Mental Health?
Also known as Intellectual Health, the National Wellness Institute provides their interpretation of this important health dimension.

Characteristics of Mental Health
Discover characteristics associated with mentally healthy people and learn how this information applies to your life.

What is Emotional Health?
Emotional Health emphasizes an awareness and acceptance of one's feelings. Click here and learn more about this and the other health dimensions.

Self-esteem is the way you view yourself and it is a major key to success in life. It is important to understand how self-esteem influences our emotional health and overall well-being.

Self-Esteem in a Nutshell
Need a crash course in self-esteem? The University of Texas at Austin has developed a thorough website to answer all your questions on this important topic.

Learn to Love Yourself
Learning to love yourself is the first step towards building positive self-esteem. Here are ways to develop the skills necessary to finally be happy with who you are.

Parenting and Self-Esteem
According to the Schwab Learning Center, "Your child's self-esteem will be determined by the conditional acceptance that he receives from others and the unconditional acceptance that he receives from you." As a parent, take a few minutes to discover techniques to help foster your child's self-esteem.

Relationships and Emotional Expression
This article discusses the differences between men and women's emotional expression and how it can impact a relationship.

Importance of Assertiveness
Healthy emotional expression involves being able to speak up for yourself and express your thoughts, opinions and feelings in a manner that does not alienate or hurt others. Click here to learn how to improve your assertiveness.

Emotional Intelligence
This site provides information on emotional intelligence, including other resources on the topic. Evaluate your emotional intelligence today! See how competent you are in your ability to sense and use emotions to more effectively manage yourself and influence positive outcomes in relationships with others.

Parents: Fostering Children's Emotional Health
It is critical to be aware of how your emotions can influence the emotional development of your children. This article explores ways to improve your emotional expression in order to better your child's.

Can You Spot the Fake Smile?
In order to communicate effectively, it is important to understand facial expressions. Test your skill at identifying real smiles at this great site sponsored by the BBC.

"As you develop your intellectual curiosity, you will actively strive to expand and challenge your mind with creative endeavors. On your path, you will begin to see problems and challenges not as stumbling blocks but stepping stones." -National Wellness Association

Expand Your Mind
Is your brain tired of the same old routine? If so, check out this site. Expand Your Mind will challenge your intellect and offer fascinating applications to logical reasoning.

Challenge Your Intellect and More!
Queendom.com has a variety of quizzes intended to keep your brain in shape. You can also take one of their many psychological tests and learn more about your mental and physical well-being.

Studies have shown that if you do what you enjoy, creativity will follow. However, for some, it still may be difficult to get in touch with their creative side. The following resources are geared towards fostering that creative spirit!

Kick Start Your Creativity
Learn ten techniques to awaken your creative spirit.

Creativity Web
This web resource provides information on ways to improve your creativity. With topics such as mind mapping, memory and visual thinking, you will learn a tremendous amount about what it takes to become more creative.

Creativity and Thinking Skills
Check out this tremendous resource!

Women and Creativity
Whatever you are in the process of creating or hoping to create, this site will provide some helpful creativity information.

Learn to Control Your Anger
"Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships and in the overall quality of your life. And it can make you feel as though you are at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion. This brochure is meant to help you understand and control anger." -American Psychological Association

Letting go of Anger
This site covers anger for grownups, kids, parents, couples, teachers and many more.

Children and Anger Management
Click here for tips on how to teach children to manage their anger.

Depression is a debilitating disorder affecting thousands of people. If you or someone you love suffers from depression, take a few minutes to check out the following helpful information.

Depression Screening
One of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you have symptoms of depression is by taking a free, confidential depression screening test. Screening tests are not intended to provide a diagnosis for clinical depression but may help identify symptoms.

Understanding Depression
Booklet on depression from the National Institute for Mental Health details the symptoms associated with depression and explains how to cope and recover.

Stories of Depression
The National Institute of Mental Health has developed an introductory easy-to-read booklet describing signs, symptoms, treatment options, how to get help and how to help someone who may have depression.

The Road to Resilience
Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress.  It is very important to learn healthy coping skills. The American Psychological Association and the Discovery Health Channel developed a brochure to help readers with taking their own road to resilience.

Women and Depression
Discover why women experience depression almost two times more often than men.  Learn about the types of depression, from where it stems and ways to help treat it.

Men and Depression
Although women experience depression at a higher rate, men also suffer from the debilitating disorder. This fact sheet explains the differences between the two sexes and ways to help men treat their depression.

Theraputic Lifestyle Changes
Learn about ways to treat and manage depression that involve healthy lifestyle improvements.

Idaho Suicide Prevention
Check out this site for information on the following suicide topics or log onto, Ulifeline.
* Idaho facts and myths about suicide
* Warning signs
* Stories concerning suicides
* Resources and links

Suicide Facts
Find information on suicide prevention along with statistics and FAQ's.

Concerned About a Friend?
Learn how to recognize the signs of suicide and how to help a friend who may be contemplating suicide.

Contemplating Suicide?
Click here for hotlines and crisis intervention information.

SAMHSA's List of Links
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has compiled a tremendous list of mental health links dealing with mental illnesses and disorders. Discover everything you ever wanted to know about mental disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Visit NIMH's site to learn about current information and research regarding various mental disorders.

Anxieties.com
Anxieties.com has a host of assessment and self-help information for people who suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias.

Change Your Mind (About Mental Health)
The American Psychological Association along with MTV have partnered together to develop a get help guide for teens and young adults dealing with mental health issues. The following list of triggers and signs from the guide will help you identify a potential problem in your life or someone close to you:
* Finding little or no pleasure in life
* Feeling worthless or extremely guilty
* Crying a lot for no particular reason
* Withdrawing from other people
* Experiencing severe anxiety, panic, or fear
* Having big mood swings
* Experiencing a change in eating or sleeping patterns
* Having very low energy
* Losing interest in hobbies and pleasurable activities
* Having too much energy, having trouble concentrating or
   following through on plans
* Feeling easily irritated or angry
* Experiencing racing thoughts or agitation
* Hearing voices or seeing images that other people do not
   experience
* Believing that others are plotting against you
* Wanting to harm yourself or someone else

Counseling Services
Location: Taylor Hall, Suite B103
Phone:  208-426-1601

Medical Services
Location: 2103 University Drive
Phone: 208-426-1459

Wellness Services
Location: 2103 University Drive
Phone: 208-426-5686

2-1-1 Idaho Careline - Idaho's Health and Human Services information and referral program; telephone and online network linking people to health and human resources.
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588

Anxieties.com has a host of assessment and self-help information for people who suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias.

Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Division of Family and Community Services
Department of Health and Welfare
Address:  P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0036
Phone: 208-334-5528
TDD: 208-332-7205
Referral Information: 800-926-2588

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) - Idaho
Address:  P.O. Box 68, Albion, ID 83311
Phone: 208-673-6672
Toll-free: 800-572-9940
E-mail: namiid@atcnet.net

Idaho Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Inc.
Address: 1509 S. Robert St. Suite 101, Boise, ID 83705
Phone: 208-433-8845
Toll-Free: 800-905-3436
E-mail: info@idahofederation.org

The 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine is a free, statewide, bi-lingual telephone information and referral available to link Idahoans with health and human service providers and programs. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. MST, Monday through Friday. After hours and on weekends telephone lines are answered by voice mail and the messages are returned the following business day.

American Association of Suicidology (AAS) promotes research, public awareness programs, public education, and training for professionals and volunteers.  AAS also serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to advancing our knowledge of suicide and our ability to prevent it. Find helpful information on suicide prevention, along with articles and recent publications.

Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With more than 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.

Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of the Division of Family and Community Services at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare focuses on improvement in the quality and availability of mental health and substance abuse services.

Campus Blues is an online resource providing help to students dealing with stress, the blues and more. There is also a forum for interacting with other students, and a link to creating your own Behavioral Wellness Plan (BWP).

The mission of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is "to improve the lives of those living with mood disorders." The site provides useful information regarding all aspects of mood disorders.

Facing Us is designed to serve as a "clubhouse," an online community that provides inspiration and encouragement to others. Users can develop a wellness plan to help keep their days balanced and positive (counselors can use this as an adjunct tool in therapy). They can also keep a personal online journal of their feelings/emotions (completely private); create a wellness book filed with tips for maintaining a healthy lilfe - and can print off a copy as a book with beautiful artwork as a cover. There is a multimedia room with a variety of art, audio and video presentations, and personal video stories.

Healthy Minds is a free consumer web site created by the American Psychiatric Association, providing a wealth of health information and resources.

Idaho Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Inc (IDFFCHM) is a state wide parent-run organization focused on the needs of children and youth with emotional, behavioral or mental disorders and their families.

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is working to raise awareness of suicide as a serious public health problem and is focusing on science-based prevention strategies to reduce injuries and deaths due to suicide.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) helps to diminish the burden of mental illness through research. This public health mandate demands powerful scientific tools to achieve better understanding, treatment, and eventually prevention of mental illness. Visit the site to find information on the research conducted by NIMH.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is focused on providing help for those suffering from mental health and substance abuse problems.

Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (SPAN) USA is people in communities across the country: families who have lost a loved one to suicide; people who have attempted suicide or struggled with suicidal thoughts, and their families; professionals serving families and communities; community leaders; and concerned citizens.

The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) leads the national system that delivers mental health services. The goal of this system is to provide the treatment and support services needed by adults with mental disorders and children with serious emotional problems.

Ulifeline is an online behavioral support system for young adults. Students are able to download information about various mental illnesses, ask questions, make appointments, and seek help anonymously via the Internet.