Watch an Expert Explain the 3 Steps to Finding Mental Health Information Online
In today’s world, everyone uses the Internet. It’s a good way to find quick answers to our questions. Below are some tips for finding information about your mental health online!
1
Search It! How do you find mental health information online?
Most teens like using their phones to look up stuff about their mental health because it’s convenient and easy. Everyone feels stressed or overwhelmed at times. We use coping skills to help us feel okay, and sometimes teens look for these on the Internet. Make sure you search for positive coping skills.
Positive coping skills help us to feel calm and in control. Some examples are listening to music, practicing yoga, or hanging out with friends.
Your doctors gave us a list of some good websites you can use to find information about mental health. You can tell that these websites are accurate and trusted because …
They end in .org, .edu, or .gov They come from hospitals or government agencies They are written by professionals, like licensed therapists or doctors They have a works-cited page
For more information about searching for physical health information online, check out this page!
2
Test It! How do you know if what you find is true?
As you look through a web page, think about how you feel.
Use your instinct! Does the website make you feel worried, bad, or confused? If so, go to a different site.
Don’t use any websites that give you tips for self-harm or new diets. These types of websites are dangerous! Steer clear of websites with quizzes that diagnose you with a mental health condition. There are so many tests out there and not all of them are “validated” or medically accurate. Lots of teens read blogs by other teens who have gone through similar things as them. That’s a great way to find support!
3
Use It! How do you know if what you find applies to you?
It can be confusing looking at long lists of symptoms online. If you are feeling unhappy or irritable, that doesn’t mean you have Depression. Only your doctor or therapist can truly diagnose you with a mental health condition. It can be scary to talk to your parents or doctors about your mental health, especially when you aren’t sure how they will react.
If you are overwhelmed, make a list of your feelings and what you want to share with them. If talking in person seems hard, you can write them a note or send them a text! Trusted adults like your parents, doctors, or school counselors want to hear how you’re feeling and want to help!
Here are some conversation starters:
“I’ve been feeling __________. Can we talk?” “I found this website and I feel like it applies to me.”
Resources Your doctors made a list of helpful websites and apps that you can use to help with your mental health:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital website On Our Sleeves Cap4Kids CDC National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Effective Child Therapy Anxiety BC Psychology Today National Eating Disorder Association
Apps
Thought Challenger Buddhify (Meditation) Headspace Calm
Hotlines Here are some numbers you can call or text if you need help right away:
If you are in an emergency or life threatening situation, call 911 or go to an Emergency Department National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call: 1-800-273-8255 Text: “Start” to 741-741
National Eating Disorders Association Helpline
Call: 1-800-931-2237
Netcare Access
24-hour mental health and substance abuse crisis and assessment service for Franklin County, Ohio Call: 614-276-2273
Watch an Expert Explain the 3 Steps to Finding Mental Health Information Online
In today’s world, everyone uses the Internet. It’s a good way to find quick answers to our questions. Below are some tips for finding information about your mental health online!
1
Search It! How do you find mental health information online?
Most teens like using their phones to look up stuff about their mental health because it’s convenient and easy.
1
Search It! How do you find mental health information online?
1
Search It! How do you find mental health information online?
Search It!
How do you find mental health information online?
Everyone feels stressed or overwhelmed at times. We use coping skills to help us feel okay, and sometimes teens look for these on the Internet. Make sure you search for positive coping skills.
- Positive coping skills help us to feel calm and in control. Some examples are listening to music, practicing yoga, or hanging out with friends.
Your doctors gave us a list of some good websites you can use to find information about mental health. You can tell that these websites are accurate and trusted because …
- They end in .org, .edu, or .gov
- They come from hospitals or government agencies
- They are written by professionals, like licensed therapists or doctors
- They have a works-cited page
For more information about searching for physical health information online, check out this page!
2
Test It! How do you know if what you find is true?
As you look through a web page, think about how you feel.
2
Test It! How do you know if what you find is true?
2
Test It! How do you know if what you find is true?
Test It!
How do you know if what you find is true?
- Use your instinct!
- Does the website make you feel worried, bad, or confused?
- If so, go to a different site.
Don’t use any websites that give you tips for self-harm or new diets. These types of websites are dangerous!
Steer clear of websites with quizzes that diagnose you with a mental health condition. There are so many tests out there and not all of them are “validated” or medically accurate.
Lots of teens read blogs by other teens who have gone through similar things as them. That’s a great way to find support!
3
Use It! How do you know if what you find applies to you?
It can be confusing looking at long lists of symptoms online. If you are feeling unhappy or irritable, that doesn’t mean you have Depression. Only your doctor or therapist can truly diagnose you with a mental health condition.
3
Use It! How do you know if what you find applies to you?
3
Use It! How do you know if what you find applies to you?
Use It!
How do you know if what you find applies to you?
It can be scary to talk to your parents or doctors about your mental health, especially when you aren’t sure how they will react.
- If you are overwhelmed, make a list of your feelings and what you want to share with them.
- If talking in person seems hard, you can write them a note or send them a text!
- Trusted adults like your parents, doctors, or school counselors want to hear how you’re feeling and want to help!
Here are some conversation starters:
- “I’ve been feeling __________. Can we talk?”
- “I found this website and I feel like it applies to me.”
Resources
Your doctors made a list of helpful websites and apps that you can use to help with your mental health:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital website On Our Sleeves Cap4Kids CDC National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Effective Child Therapy Anxiety BC Psychology Today National Eating Disorder Association
Apps
Nationwide Children’s Hospital website On Our Sleeves Cap4Kids CDC National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Effective Child Therapy Anxiety BC Psychology Today National Eating Disorder Association
Nationwide Children’s Hospital website
On Our Sleeves
Cap4Kids
CDC
National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Effective Child Therapy
Anxiety BC
Psychology Today
National Eating Disorder Association
Thought Challenger
Buddhify (Meditation)
Headspace
Calm
Hotlines
Here are some numbers you can call or text if you need help right away:
If you are in an emergency or life threatening situation, call 911 or go to an Emergency Department
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call: 1-800-273-8255
Text: “Start” to 741-741
National Eating Disorders Association Helpline
Call: 1-800-931-2237
Netcare Access
24-hour mental health and substance abuse crisis and assessment service for Franklin County, Ohio
Call: 614-276-2273
Call: 1-800-273-8255
Text: “Start” to 741-741
Call: 1-800-931-2237
24-hour mental health and substance abuse crisis and assessment service for Franklin County, Ohio
Call: 614-276-2273
