Links listed by Topic or Category
Advocacy~Support~Compliance
Bring Change 2 Mind
From the site: 1 in 6 adults and almost 1 in 10 children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Yet, for many, the stigma associated with the illness, can be as great a challenge as the disease itself. This is where the misconceptions stop. This is where bias comes to an end. This is where we change lives. Because this is where we Bring Change 2 Mind.
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation improves the lives of families raising children and teens living with bipolar disorder and related conditions.
The Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties
Crisis Line 360-586-2800
The crisis clinic operates 24 hours a day with listening and emotional support and to provide any appropriate resources callers may need.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance & The Storm in My Brain
From the site: The mission of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is to provide hope, help, and support to improve the lives of people living with depression or bipolar disorder. DBSA pursues and accomplishes this mission through peer-based, recovery-oriented, empowering services and resources when people want them, where they want them, and how they want them.
The Storm in My Brain (booklet) can be found using the search tool on this website.
Disability Rights Washington
Disability Rights Washington (DRW) is a private non-profit organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide. We provide free advocacy services to people with disabilities. If you have a question about your rights or need assistance, please contact us! (800) 562-2702 or (206) 324-1521 from 9 am til 2 pm Monday - Friday
Disability Rights Galaxy
From this new site: Civil Rights are for Everyone Everywhere
Includes international, national, state and local news, 9 forums, history, awareness, etc...
Drugwatch
Provides information on prescription medication and side effects related to mental health and also for over the counter medications.
Family Voices of Washington Health Information Center (F2FHIC)
The Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F HIC) is a non-profit organization that helps families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and the professionals who serve them. Because the health care needs of CYSHCN are chronic and complex, parents and caregivers are often challenged with finding the resources to provide and finance health care for their children.
Family Voices of Washington For Youth by Youth
Facebook forum for youth with special health care needs.
Goalforit
Online goal setting for kids helps with chores, homework and behavior challenges. FAMH families that have accessed this tool have mostly found it to be helpful.
ParentsMedGuide
From the website: "The American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have developed two medication guides, ADHD Parents Medication Guide, and The Use of Medication in Treating Childhood and Adolescent Depression: Information for Patients and Families. These guides are designed to help patients, families, and physicians make informed decisions about obtaining and administering the most appropriate care for a child with ADHD or depression. The guides have been endorsed by many national medical, family and patient advocacy organizations, listed below. In addition, AACAP has developed the Medication Guide for Treating Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents, which has been approved by the APA."
National Suicide Hotline
From the website: Are You in Crisis? 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you. Our local Crisis Line for Thurston and Mason counties is 586-2800.
Suicide Prevention and Resource Center
From the site: Welcome to SPRC.org, the home of over 490 web pages and 250 library resources on suicide prevention information. This site is also a portal to other valuable resources about suicide prevention, receiving an average of 26,229 visits per month. Visitors can find a range of information from suicide prevention and mental health news to strategic tools for developing suicide prevention programs. The site includes individual state suicide prevention pages, news and events, an online library, training, and links to other web sites. We invite you to explore the site and to give us feedback on it by emailing
The Jed Foundation
From the site: Preventing suicide and emotional distress (relates to college students)
To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA)
"This began as an attempt to tell a story and a way to help a friend. Today, To Write Love On Her Arms, is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery."
Youth n' Action
Mason county contacts for Youth n' Action: Michael or Dan
Operates at the Armory across from Safeway in Shelton until 5 pm daily.
Youth Suicide Prevention Program
From the site: Each week in Washington state 2 young people die by suicide and 17 attempts at suicide result in hospitalization.
While these facts are disturbing, there is hope. By Educating ourselves and others we can make a difference in preventing youth suicides.
Public Education
CLEAR
Toll free legal services for low income families and their students. Call 1-888-201-1014 and you may need to hit re-dial for about 10 minutes and then be prepared to spend an hour on the line with an attorney.
Special Ed Parent Advocate for Mason County
Click to contact Sarah McQuilkin for special education assistance.
Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) Office of the Governor
Assistance in navigating public education for all students and their families.
Office for Civil Rights/US Department of Education
Information about filing an Office for Civil Rights complaint or contact them if you feel your student has experienced discrimination.
Special Ed Ombuds/Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (state education agency)
Call 1-360-725-6075 to contact Kristin Hennessey. The purpose of the ombudsman is to provide support to parents, guardians, educators and students with disabilities. The ombudsman provides information to help families and educators to understand state and federal laws, rules and regulations, and to access training and support, technical information services, and mediation services as appropriate.
Washington Law Help
List of self-help materials and informational publications for special education that includes the Team Child advocacy manual.
Washington PAVE
Parent directed organization that provides information and support and works with families, individuals with disabilities and community members in all walks of life and all types of disabilities.
Parents may seek assistance for special education challenges from PAVE by calling 1-800-5-PARENT and will receive a response in the order in which the call is received. PAVE assists parents in IEP meetings as staff or volunteers are available.
Wrightslaw
"Parents, Educators, advocates and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law and advocacy for children with disabilities."
Public Mental Health and Related Resources
Behavioral Health Resources
BHR provides public mental health and addiction recovery services in Thurston and Mason counties for children and adults.
Call 360-704-7170 for more information.
Sea Mar Community Health Centers
Sea Mar provides medical, dental and behavioral health services in multiple counties including Thurston. Behavioral health services are mostly for adults.
Mental Health Access Program (MHAP)
Notes from the website...
This program is for adults age 18 and above, living in Thurston county, that are uninsured or underinsured with no mental health benefits and other eligibility criteria listed on the website - check the website and contact MHAP to see if you meet eligibility criteria. This is a community based program developed to improve access to mental health services in Thurston county. Mental health therapists provide counseling (up to 12 visits) targeting clients who are troubled by anxiety or depressed mood and who might be successful with a brief intervention model.
MilitaryOneSource
For immediate help 24/7 call 1-800-342-9647. Includes help for parenting stress, education, relocation and just about any need. Includes national suicide hotline. Here is the link for military health care - Tri Care.
Partnership Access Line - PAL for Kids
The Partnership Access Line (PAL) is a telephone based child mental health consultation system funded by the state legislature, being implemented now in Washington State. PAL employs child psychiatrists, child psychologists, and social workers affiliated with Seattle Children’s Hospital to deliver its consultation services. Though PAL is only contracted to provide service to 1/3rd of the state, at this time the PAL team is making itself available to any primary care provider throughout Washington.
Public Mental Health Ombudsman
Thurston and Mason county residents who receive or are eligible to receive publicly funded mental health services may request ombuds services. Complaints may also be taken from family members and other interested parties. Ombuds receive complaints and grievances and assist in quickly resolving them at the lowest possible level. The ombuds also acts as an information service for consumers. You may contact the public mental health ombuds at 360-867-2556 or 1-800-658-4105.
Choice Regional Health Network (CRHN)
CRHN is a non-profit that helps people access healthcare services including mental health in multiple counties, including Mason and Thurston counties. Please visit the website to learn more or call 360-493-5760.
Chemical Dependency
Chemical Dependency Treatment and Support Services
Thurston and Mason Counties
Link to Crisis Clinic list of resources and Youth Help Line 360-586-2777 and Crisis Line 586-2800
