This appendix provides some reliable starting points when searching for additional information online.
First, please make sure to visit our website. It is a companion to this book. Consider this book as your starting point, and the website your next steps. You’ll find bonus materials, additional resources, and opportunities to connect with us.
https://mhnav.com/extras
On our website, you’ll find additional original material we’ve written, beyond what’s contained in this book.
For example, you’ll see an in-depth article on the topic of mental health evidence, its limitations, how to apply and interpret it, common pitfalls, and more. It’s an extension of the Lies, Damn Lies, and Evidence section found in the Paging Dr. Google chapter.
We’ll also maintain a list of errata, corrections, and minor updates to the book. If you noticed any mistakes, please let us know.
Our website also includes an ever-expanding, up-to-date curated list of additional mental health tools and resources from around the web. The web sites listed shortly are only a starting point.
We want to make it easy for you to find the best, most relevant material. For example, you’ll find recommended self-report scales for various mental illnesses. We also suggest selected workbooks that help you learn skills on your own to manage your symptoms.
Our website will also help you connect with us. We’d love to hear from you!
Do you have comments or questions about what you’ve read?
What did you learn when you applied this book to your situation?
Is there anything you’d like to see either as bonus material on our website or in a future edition of this book?
Please sign up for our email list. You’ll be the first to know about new tools and resources to help in your mental health journey.
You can also watch our blog. We’ll post book and website updates and additions, mental health news, additional commentary, and more.
As a reminder, we can’t provide medical advice specific to your situation. Please consult a physician for matters relating to your health and any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.
As noted, here are just a few sources that provide reliable mental health information. You’ll find many more on our website, as described above.
You learned about Google Scholar in the Paging Dr. Google chapter. Unlike a regular Google web search, it searches articles published in academic journals, conferences, and similar publications, including much of the PubMed database of biomedical literature. Full-text copies of many articles are available online, with citations and abstracts for the rest. It helps you get a sense of the context and importance of the article you’re reading.
https://scholar.google.com
If you’re after a high-quality and reliable examination of the clinical evidence used to make important decisions, Cochrane is the place to start. Relevant research, methodologies and results are analyzed, providing you with a concise summary. Interventions are recommended only if high-quality evidence supports them. This can be subtly nuanced. Remember, too, the oft-quoted aphorism “the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
https://cochrane.org
Your doctors and pharmacists should be your primary sources of information about medications, as they can take into account your unique health profile. For less personalized information, there are good sources available. In particular, both of these consumer-oriented sites contain detailed information on most medications (and many natural supplements). This includes approved and off-label uses, dosages, side effects, and warnings about potential serious consequences.
Both can identify potential medication (sometimes called “drug-drug”) interactions. This can be useful when considering adding a new medication or supplement to your existing regimen. Potential interactions, no matter the severity, need to be interpreted by your doctor. They can take into account your overall health history, current symptoms, and previous treatment responses. Don’t entirely rule out any medication based only on a potential interaction flagged by sites like these.
https://drugs.com
https://rxlist.com
There is an abundance of information that practitioners need to consider when creating a treatment plan. Psychiatrists David Goldbloom and Jon Davine compiled the essential information into a handbook aimed at helping family doctors provide the best evidence-based care for their patients with mental illness. Psychiatry in Primary Care: A Concise Canadian Pocket Guide is available in book and online form.
This guide includes practical information about each illness, including approaches to diagnosis, screening tools, treatment recommendations with links to full clinical guidelines, information on individual treatments, and many additional resources.
https://www.porticonetwork.ca/web/psychiatry-primary-care
We can recommend several websites if you’re looking for a broad range of reliable mental health information vetted by reputable organizations.
https://mentalhealth.gov
https://nimh.nih.gov
https://camh.ca
These popular consumer sites aggregate a variety of mental health information, including news, articles, blogs, opinion pieces and more. Both have a large community of users. While neither is a good source for objective medical advice, many people who wish to engage in conversations about mental health find them helpful.
https://healthyplace.com
https://psychcentral.com
Now Available! A MSP-supported live course for BC residents based on the book. [Mar/2023]
While you can read it for free online, there are conditions on sharing it with others (see below). You can also still purchase copies in paperback or e-book (PDF, Kindle, Kobo, etc.).
Now Available! A MSP-supported live course for BC residents based on the book.
