Mental and Behavioral Health

Government Programs and Resources

• 2-1-1 Information and Referral Search
  2-1-1 provides free and confidential information and referral. Call 2-1-1 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more. Learn more about your local 2-1-1 by looking it up here.


• Maryland Association of Behavioral Health Authorities
  The MABHA is the non-profit organization comprised of Maryland's Core Service Agencies, Local Addictions Authorities, and Local Behavioral Health Authorities. Agencies are responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring public behavioral health services at the county level.


• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  Support for individuals living with a mental health condition, family members and caregivers of afflicted individuals, teens and young adults, veterans and active duty members, and LGBTQ persons.


• National Institute of Mental Health
  NIMH offers expert-reviewed information on mental disorders, a range of related topics, and the latest mental health research. Use this A to Z list to find basic information on signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and current clinical trials.


• InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
  The Greater Washington, D.C. Emergency Services Directory is an online database of approximately 400 service providers of resources such as mental health and counseling with specialized services for teenagers, human trafficking victims, and veterans. To begin your search, go to this link and select the service(s) and region(s) of interest.

LDS Church Resources

• Counseling - When to Make a Referral
  Deciding whether to refer a member to professional counseling can be a fine line. When in doubt, call your local LDS Family Resources office and consult with a therapist free of charge. Find here a list of some of the most common reasons to refer a member to counseling.


• LDS Family Services
  LDS Family Services helps Church leaders care for individuals with social and emotional challenges by providing resources that are in harmony with gospel principles.


• LDS Family Services: Maryland Agency
  Church-wide information resources for mental and behavioral health issues.


• Servicios Familiares de la Iglesia
  Recursos de información en toda la iglesia para problemas de salud mental y de comportamiento.


• Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychologists
  AMCAP provides a database of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are international mental health professionals. Those listed in this directory have agreed to support the purposes and ethical guidelines of AMCAP as stated in the organization's Bylaws. Locate a mental health counselor by specialty, location, or name here.


• Overcoming Pornography
  The Lord Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to overcome all things. In this site, you will be reminded of the power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement as you discover practical guidance and resources for individuals, families, and leaders seeking healing, forgiveness, protection, and power in overcoming pornography.


• Ministering resources
  Ministering resources for ward and stake council members on difficult topics that may face members of the congregation.

Depression

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
  DBSA provides hope, help, support, and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders. DBSA has support groups for individuals.


• Managing Postpartum Depression: A Gospel Perspective
  A woman’s experiencing postpartum depression does not mean that she is weak, that she has done something wrong, or that she is to blame for her overwhelming feelings. In most cases the state is temporary. Suffering from postpartum depression, like facing other trials, can bring us closer to the Savior as we find ways to obtain spiritual strength.


• Depression in Children and Teens
  The behavior of depressed children and teenagers may differ from the behavior of depressed adults. Find here a list of signs of depression from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.


• When Your Child Is Depressed
  Gospel-focused article for parents of depressed children. Keep in mind that Bishops are not trained in professional psycho-therapeutic counseling and are not a replacement for professional help. Also, it's imperative parents do not send messages of blame to their children regarding depression.


• Mental Illness: In search of Understanding and Hope
  Gospel-focused article for those struggling with mental illnesses and their community members.


• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  Excellent fact sheets in English, Spanish and Chinese on all mental health disorders and a searchable registry of child and adolescent psychiatrists.


• HelpGuide.org
  A guide for parents on teen depression and resources for depressed teens among other resources for mental, emotional, and social health.


• Understanding and Spotting the Signs of Depression
  Depression is a mental disorder affecting children, teenagers, adults, and elderly people. When depression strikes, debilitating sadness often occurs that affects someone’s ability to function and carry out daily tasks. Depression can have a variety of causes, including life events and illnesses.

Addictions and Recovery

• Behavioral Health Administration
  Resource for overdose prevention information, treatment locators, and information for health care options.


• Potomac Pathways
  Potomac Pathways offers a variety of clinical treatment programs for teens and young adults who are struggling with substance abuse and mental health and behavioral challenges, which almost always accompany substance use for young people.


• Local Addictions Authority contact list
  Each of Maryland’s twenty-four jurisdictions has a “Local addictions authority” who is the designated authority responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded substance use disorder services. Find a list here to contact the local addictions authority in your area.

Domestic Violence

• U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline
  1-800-799 SAFE (7233)


• Maryland Statewide Helpline for domestic violence
  1-800-MD-HELPS


• A Conversation on Spouse Abuse
  A good LDS Ensign article on helping those dealing with domestic abuse


• Welfare Leader Resources on Abuse
  Guides on preventing and responding to spouse and/or child abuse and help for victims and offenders of abuse.


• Agency and Anger
  A talk by an LDS leader on controlling anger. He states that a cunning part of [Satan’s] strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control.


• Be Slow to Anger
  A talk by an LDS leader on controlling anger. May the Lord bless you and inspire you to walk without anger, without bitterness of any kind, but to reach out to others with expressions of friendship, appreciation, and love.


• Be Slow to Anger
  We are constantly exposed to irritations as we mingle with others—and even when we are alone. How we react to these irritations is a reflection of our personalities and temperaments. It would seem reasonable to believe that in order to develop a healthy, pleasing personality and to become useful and an influence for good, one must avoid being easily provoked to anger.

Mental Health and Homelessness

• No information is available for this region.