About one in five American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem, according the National Institutes of Health. So it is difficult to understate the scope of the mental health challenge in the United States. The demand for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other mental health professionals is growing rapidly. This collection of free online resources is designed to help new and veteran mental health professionals advance their careers.
While most journals require pricy subscriptions to access their content, there are several prominent, reputable mental health journals that publish all their articles free online.
Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
This new open-access journal from UK-based publisher Taylor & Francis continually posts interesting research on psychology and behavior from academics around the world.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Publisher: BioMed Central
This open online journal is constantly publishing new findings on the psychiatric disorders of children and adolescents.
BMC Psychiatry
With a decent impact factor of 2.23, this monthly open-access journal publishes important research on prevention, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric disorders.
Publisher: Frontiers
Founded by members of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Frontiers is a leading open-access publisher. This journal aims to print the best research across the entire field of psychology.
International Journal of Mental Health Systems
BioMed Central is a growing UK-based publisher of online open-access journals. Their International Journal on Mental Health Systems provides a free outlet for the latest research and policy questions.
Psychology, as it stands today, is a vast scientific discipline, with many branches and competing theories. Delve into the psychology most relevant to your health practice area with these open course materials from renowned universities.
Intellectual Development
One of the major goals of psychology is understanding the development of individual and collective consciousness. These open lecture materials from Tufts examine the most prominent theories on what goes into the formation of the human mind.
Introduction to Mental Health and Disaster Preparedness
The greatest public mental health challenges often follow in the wake of traumas. Discover the best approaches to mental health crises following surges of violence or disasters with these free lecture materials from Johns Hopkins.
Issues in Mental Health Research in Developing Countries
Mental health issues are viewed through an entirely different lense depending on the culture they originate in. Explore views on mental health in the developing world with these readings, slides, and audio lectures from Johns Hopkins University.
With 20 different 75-minute audio lectures from Yale, you can explore the breadth of the discipline or focus on the lectures most pertinent to you.
Research Organizations
From Freudian analysis to the current trends in pharmacology, our understanding of mental health is still a work in progress. These major research organizations dedicate money and effort to figuring out what works and what doesn't for the human mind.
Mental Health Research Network
Through 19 different research centers and partnerships, with health systems representing 12 million patients, the MHRN conducts large-scale research into public mental health concerns and treatment strategies.
WHO: Mental Health Evidence and Research Programme
The World Health Organization's mental health research team gathers data on treatments and policies around the world with the goal of reducing the burden of psychological illness, especially bipolar disorder, depression, and suicide.
NIH: National Institute of Mental Health
One of the major federal funding institutes for scientific research, the NIMH funds academic research for advancing psychological science and clinical trials for the latest mental health treatments.
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Since its start in 1987, this not-for-profit charity has donated hundreds of millions toward the latest research in alleviating mental illness.
International Mental Health Research Organization
This nonprofit collects money and directs it toward the most promising research for treating mental illnesses like schizophrenia and chronic depression.
Roughly 5.6% of national health-care spending, or $133 billion, goes toward mental health treatment, according to a 2011 report in the journal Health Affairs. That makes for a lot of psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers. Yet many argue more are needed. These organizations represent the growing number of mental health professionals in the United States.
This is by far the largest organization for professionals working in psychology, counting over 134,000 members. The group publishes journals, sets professional standards, and provides professional and educational opportunities for its members.
This well-established professional organization supports practicing psychiatrists across the globe through advocacy, research publications, and continuing educational opportunities.
School counselors, from elementary school up through college, are on the front lines of child and adolescent psychology. With a membership of over 31,000 counselors, this organization aims to increase professionalism and standards.
With an international membership of around 26,000, this organization is for clinicians, students, scientists, and all professionals interested in advancing scientific psychology.
American Mental Health Counselors Association
This organization of over 7,000 mental health counselors aims to improve the quality of the profession through education, networking, advocacy, and promotion of high ethical standards.
Public Awareness Organizations
With an estimated one in five adults suffering from psychological troubles, awareness organizations play a key role in helping people overcome problems and lead happier lives.
This independent international development organization challenges the terrible stigmas and poor treatment faced by mentally ill individuals in many communities abroad.
Bring Change 2 Mind
This independent nonprofit works to end the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness through outreach and awareness events.
The oldest and largest independent mental health support organization in the U.S., MHA works with 240 different affiliates to improve policies, raise awareness, and offer support to those in need.
Founded in 1979, this grassroots organization provides direct support and guidance to the many Americans suffering from mental health problems.
This federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commands a huge budget for preventing and treating substance abuse and addictions in the form of grants and funding for local initiatives. This organization uses its over three billion dollar annual budget to lead public mental health initiatives across the United States.