Psychological Trauma, PTSD and Bereavement
General Resources, Bereavement, Post-Traumatic Stress, Suicide Information Resource, Related Documents
General Resources
APA Online: The American Psychological Association's Public Information network, it contains many psychology-related links. It has excellent information on psychological problems of all kinds, and news, program announcements, reference and educational materials for both professionals and the general public.
Association for the Prevention of Torture: The APT is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) which envisions a world in which no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The APT has been leading the international campaign for the adoption, entry into force and effective implementation of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT), an international legal instrument which seeks to open all places of detention to international and national scrutiny. The APT’s multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team has expertise in training, providing legal advice, developing practical tools, facilitating exchanges and advocating for preventive measures and mechanisms. The APT is governed by an international Board that supervises, advises and participates in activities organized by the Secretariat in Geneva.
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture: A Toronto, Ontario based organization, the CCVT provides a link between the survivor of torture and a network of professional services which includes doctors, lawyers, social service workers and volunteers. They have several programs operating, including physical and psychological treatment programs, language classes and support groups.
Canadian Psychological Association : The homepage of the CPA. Included on the site are coming events, a chat room, a listing of e-mail discussion groups, publications and resources on the CPA, provincial organizations and general items of interest.
Disaster Mental Health Institute: The mission of the Institute is the promotion, development, and application of both practice and research in disaster mental health. Their site includes links to other disaster mental health organizations, online publications, public and professional education programs and much more.
Green Cross: The mission of the Foundation is to support the field of traumatology in special interest areas such as: humanitarian efforts, standards of practice in research, consultation, education, and the development of humane policies affecting the traumatized.
Info-Trauma.org: A Canadian information and eduation web site, with resources of use to both professionals and the general public on the topic of psychological trauma. Also available en français
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims: The home page of this organization, including contact information and links to a variety of online publications and news.
Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture: The Medical Foundation is a human rights organization that exists to enable survivors of torture and organized violence to engage in a healing process to assert their own human dignity and worth. Clients may be offered one or more of the following services: Practical help and advice; Medical consultation and care in liaison with GPs or hospital specialists; Physiotherapy or one of a range of complementary therapies; counselling and individual psychotherapy; Group therapy; Marital and family therapy
Psych Central: Dr. John Grohol's Mental Health Page. This is one of the best resources on the web for information on all aspects of mental health. Included are extensive directories of mailing lists, newsgroups and web sites of interest to anyone looking for information on mental health or self-help and support groups.
The Bright Side: A very useful site which presents information and support for those suffering from depression, stress or a personal/traumatic crisis. They supply links to other sites, online articles, educational materials, support groups and much more.
UK Trauma Group: This site provides access to a selection of materials which gives relevant and helpful information for the general public and for health professionals about Posttraumatic Stress Reactions.They have recently added new information for veterans about Combat Stress and the Medical Assessment Programme.
World Organization Against Torture (organization Mondiale Contre la Torture): OMCT fights against torture, summary executions, forced disappearances and all other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. It has at its disposal a network, SOS Torture, consisting of some 240 non-governmental organizations which act as sources of information. It offers international advocacy, victim rights and support programs, and human rights monitoring.
Bereavement
Association for Death Education and counselling: In their own words - "The Association for Death Education and counselling is a multi-disciplinary professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in death education, bereavement counselling, and care of the dying. Based on theory and quality research, ADEC provides information, support, and resources to its multicultural membership and, through them, to the public."
Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network: The network focuses on: Bringing together stakeholders in the areas of practice, policy and research related to children and adolescents with experiences of trauma, loss and grief; Supporting local and national networking and linkages between people responsible for, or working with, children, adolescents and their families; Offering the best available knowledge, information and resources to support service providers, researchers, educators, trainers, policy makers and advocates.
Bereaved Families Online: BFO, a project of Bereaved Families of Ontario (Canada) provides a place to discuss your experiences and learn about grief with others who have been there. Their services give you a chance to talk, in a confidential setting, about how your loss affects your life. They feel that by sharing with others who have been there, you may learn how to cope by gaining insight into your own thoughts and feelings. This site includes a series of helpful articles for friends, family and co-workers of someone dealing with a death.
Child Death Helpline (UK): The Child Death Helpline is a helpline for anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, from prebirth to adult, under any circumstances, however recently or long ago. Their site includes helpful links and information, as well as an online information service.
Crisis, Grief and Healing: An award-winning website by Tom Golden, you'll find information on, or links to, just about anything you need to know about grief and healing.
GriefNet: A large number of well documented resources on bereavement, grief, death and dying. Bereavement by illness is a major topic, but the site is most assuredly not limited to this area.
National Association of Loss and Grief (Australia): NALAG is a not-for-profit association of individuals and organisations that in partnership with Government and other organisations works to facilitate and improve the community's awareness of loss and grief issues and its capacity to effectively respond to loss and grief including bereavement.
The Compassionate Friends (USA): TCF is a self-help organization for bereaved parents and siblings. There are presently hundreds of chapters world-wide. This site gives membership information, information on finding a local chapter in your and has links to other TCF local chapter webpages. There is also a branch of the TCF in the United Kingdom, and Canada (regional listing: Ottawa, Prince Edward Island, South-Western Manitoba, Winnipeg)
Open to Hope: This blog provides information, support groups, and a regular podcast "radio" show on the topics of dealing with grief and loss.
Post-Traumatic Stress and Psychological Trauma
After the Crisis: After the Crisis is a collaborative initiative between the National GAINS Center at Policy Research Associates (PRA) and the Center on Women, Violence and Trauma (CWVT). The initiative is supported in part by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), as well as through the tremendous dedication of its members who have volunteered countless time and resources toward achieving the goals of the initiative. The urgent need for the After the Crisis initiative was most recently highlighted by the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in communities all along the Gulf Coast. The key activities of the initiative are focused on the development of technical assistance strategies and support networks that are dedicated to addressing the long term mental health and trauma needs of disaster survivors.
American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress: The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress® is a multidisciplinary network of professionals who are committed to the advancement of intervention for survivors of trauma. The Academy aims to identify expertise among professionals, across disciplines, and to provide meaningful standards for those who work regularly with survivors.
Anxiety Disorders Association of America: nxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to informing the public, health care professionals, and media that anxiety disorders are real, serious, and treatable.
Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health: The ACPMH is a collaboration between the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the University of Melbourne and the Australian Defence Force.
Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists: ATSS members represent, emergency responders, peer counselors, victim assistance staff, emergency preparedness and disaster workers, child and adult victim advocates, grief counselors, fire fighters, the clergy and chaplaincy, public safety officers, addictions specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social work, marriage and family counselors, hospice staff nurses, school and college counselors, employee assistance and others engaged in helping victims and survivors heal. ATSS members are actively involved in crisis intervention and disaster management, victim services, emergency and trauma response and longer-term treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other disorders.
Child Trauma Institute: An excellent resource on all issues dealing with child and adolescent trauma and loss, how to help and understand. Sections on assessment, treatment, online publications and links of interest.
David Baldwin's Trauma Info Pages: All you ever wanted to know about the effects of psychological trauma on victims of crime, tragedy or disaster. It contains a large number of links of interest to professionals, volunteers or survivors.
Disaster Mental Health: A collection of detailed information designed to help mental health workers assist disaster / trauma victims and fellow relief workers / crisis counsellors.
European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: The homepage for this organization.
Gift from Within: GfW is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to those who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), those at risk for PTSD, and those who care for traumatized individuals. It develops and disseminates educational material, including videotapes, articles, books, and a resource catalogue. maintains a roster of survivors who are willing to participate in an international network of peer support. Their website is has a wealth of online articles, research materials, support forums and more.
Impact: Impact’s activities, particularly in promoting psycho-social care, are ultimately aimed at promoting disaster awareness and disaster preparedness in the European Union, including natural disasters, animal disease, pandemics and bio-terrorism.
Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT): Their mission is to provide professional training and information dissemination to improve the quality of life for those affected by violence, abuse, and trauma on a local, national, and an international level.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) provides a forum for the sharing of research, clinical strategies, public policy concerns and theoretical formulations on trauma in the United States and around the world. ISTSS is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge and to the stimulation of policy, program and service initiatives that seek to reduce traumatic stressors and their immediate and long-term consequences. Their site contains online articles abstracts, information on organization programs and conferences and many links of interest.
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A part of the U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs, this site includes background information on the center, access to databases and resource material on post-traumatic stress in general, publications and NCPTSD job opportunities, as well as a few links to other sites. A very useful resource is their PSTD 101 section.
National Crime Victim's Research and Treatment Center : The NCVC has been devoted to achieving a better understanding of the impact of criminal victimization on adults, children and their families. The program activities of the NCVC are focused in four major areas: Scientific Research, Treatment, Professional Education, and Policy Consultation. For nearly two decades the NCVC has conducted important scientific Research projects on different aspects of criminal victimization and child abuse. In more recent years, research efforts have expanded to include an examination of the mental health impact of natural disasters and urban violence. Studies have been sponsored by agencies and organizations such as the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Justice, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, the State Justice Institute, and the U. S. Department of the Navy.
North American Fire Fighters Veterans Network: N.A.F.F.V.N. is dedicated to the education of fire fighters, and first responders to the issues of job stress, burnout and post-traumatic stress reactions. Helpful information, networking contacts and a collection of helpful links are all provided.
Sidran Foundation: A national non-profit organization devoted to education, advocacy and research related to the early recognition and treatment of trauma-related stress in children and the understanding and treatment of adults suffering from trauma-generated disorders. This site includes access to online pamphlets, information request functions, Sidran's own press listing, and links of interest.
Survivors International: A non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential psychological and medical services to survivors of torture who have fled from around the world to the San Francisco Bay Area. SI aims to help survivors put the pieces back together by providing the support they need to re-establish healthy and productive lives after their experiences of torture.
UK Trauma Group: The UK Trauma Group is an informal (ad hoc) network of practitioners working with traumatized people in the UK.
Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies : A consultation and education centre, hosting specialty research teams. The website provides background and contact information with various specialists at the Centre.
Suicide Information / Prevention Resources
American Association of Suicidology: An extensive site containing contact and membership information, links to related sites and documents, and a listing of available publications.
Centre for Suicide Prevention: The Canadian Centre for Suicide Prevention is a non-profit organization serving thousands of people in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. The Centre relies upon individuals and groups for the financial support needed to carry out its programs. The Centre for Suicide Prevention is a non-profit organization serving thousands of people in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. The Centre relies upon individuals and groups for the financial support needed to carry out its programs.
Dr. Ivan's Depression Central: Very complete central listing of all forms of depression, how to deal with them and various forms of treatment.
International Association for Suicide Prevention: The IASP is dedicated to preventing suicidal behaviour, to alleviate its effects, and to provide a forum for scholars, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.
National Institute of Mental Health - Suicide Prevention: Extensive information on suicide prevention, publications and research, public education resources, clinical trials, and much more.
National P.o.l.i.c.e. Suicide Foundation: The mission of the National P.O.L.I.C.E. Suicide Foundation is to provide suicide awareness and prevention training programs and support services that will meet the psychological and spiritual needs of emergency workers and their families. Their goals are to provide suicide related counselling and support for families and officers ( including law enforcement, paramedics, IRS agents, fireman and other emergency workers), provide encouragement and hope to families of suicide victims by helping them to under stand and deal with their anger and guilt, provide educational seminars to educate the general public and government employees on suicide awareness, and provide a network of communication among suicide survivors.
Samaritans: A UK non-religious charity that has been offering emotional support to the suicidal and despairing for over 40 years by phone, visit and letter.
SA\VE (Suicide Awareness \ Voices of Education): SA\VE is an organization dedicated to educating the public about suicide prevention. Their site include a much information on suicide and depression, how to recognize it in yourself or others and how to help. They also have book review and survivor support pages
Suicide and Crisis Helplines around the World
Suicide Information and Education Centre: SIEC is a special library and resource centre providing information on suicide and suicidal behaviour. On their site you'll find resource and research data, links to useful sites and organizations, information on beginning or improving programs, a bibliography of materials on suicidal behaviour and more.
US Department of Health and Human Services National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Information, online resources, state-by-state directories of suicide prevention programs and much more.
