Mental Health
 A healthy mind is as important as a healthy body to your overall 

well-being. Good mental health helps you feel good about 

yourself, connect with others, find meaning in life, and thrive at 

home, work, and play. Good mental health doesn’t mean you will 

never be sad, insecure, or worried. But good mental health can 

help you keep problems in perspective. 

Some factors that influence mental health are out of our control,

such as our genes and some life events. But many are not. Just 

like physical activity and eating right help to keep your body 

healthy, you can make lifestyle choices to help keep emotionally 

healthy, too. 

What is mental health? 

Mental health is how we think, feel, and 

act as we cope with life. It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to 

others, and make choices. Your mental 

health is shaped by the interplay of many 

forces. These include: 

l	 brain chemicals 

l	 culture 

l	 environment 

l	 genes 

l	 hormones 

l	 illness 

l	 life events 

l	 personality 

l	 reproductive cycle 

l	 society 

Mental Health 207 
 

 

Mental health exists on a spectrum. At 

one end are feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that allow you to thrive. At the 

other are feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that disrupt life and cause distress.

Your point on the spectrum will change 

from moment to moment as the forces 

that shape your mental health change.

You might not notice small changes in 

your mental health. But the big changes 

are easy to see and feel, such as the highs 

you might feel after reaching a personal 

goal or the lows after losing a job. 

Your personal journey through life is 

unique. But there are predictable stages 

of a woman’s life cycle, from girlhood to 

older adulthood. At some points, a woman’s mental health may be more at risk 

of problems, such as after having a baby 

or in the years just before menopause.

But with each stage comes a capacity for 

strength and growth, too. 

Stress matters 

We feel stressed when the demands of 

life and our skills and resources for coping are out of balance. We have shortterm and long-term stress. Missing the 

bus or arguing with a spouse can cause 

short-term stress. Single parenting or 

financial hardship can lead to long-term 

stress. Even some of our happiest times 

can be stressful, like during the holidays 

or having a baby. Some of the most common stressful life events include: 

l	 death of a spouse 

l	 death of a close family member 

l	 divorce 

l	 losing your job 

l	 major personal illness or injury 

l	 marital separation 

l	 marriage 

l	 pregnancy 

l	 retirement 

l	 spending time in jail 

A woman’s mental health is shaped by 

her body, mind, and life experiences. 

208 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social conditions such as living in poverty and dealing with racism can expose 

people to ongoing stress. So can discrimination or harassment at work. Stress 

caused by trauma, intimate partner violence, or an abusive or troubled home life 

during childhood can have potent and 

long-lasting effects on a woman’s mental 

health. In fact, childhood sexual abuse,

which is more frequent among girls, may 

have effects that last into adulthood— 

ranging from depression and anxiety to 

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

More familiar to many women is day-today stress. Stress that builds up can take 

a toll on your physical and mental health.

Did you know that you are more likely 

to catch a cold during times of high 

stress? Long-term stress can put you at 

risk of more serious health problems, like 

depression or hypertension. Or make 

health problems you already have worse. 

At the same time, not all stress is bad.

Just enough stress keeps you focused and 

helps you to perform your best, such as 

the stress you might feel before speaking in front of a group of people. It also 

can prompt you to change a situation for 

the better, such as leaving a dead-end 

job. But any stress can affect your health.

Pay attention to your body for signs that 

stress is building up. And try these tips 

to keep stress in check: 

l	 Take time each day to relax and unwind, even if only for a few minutes. 

l	 Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep every 

night. 

l	 Eat healthy foods, which give you 

energy. 

l	 Make time for physical activity, which 

relieves tension and boosts mood. 

l	 Talk to friends and loved ones. They 

are good listeners and might offer a 

different way of seeing things. 

Signs of Role Strain and Stress 

Juggling multiple roles is a fact of life 

for most women today. Sometimes, 

our roles as wives, partners, mothers, 

workers, and caregivers can feel like 

they are competing for our time and energy. Role strain and stress can happen 

easily if you take on too much, set standards that are too high, and/or don’t 

get the support you need. But life roles 

can enhance and support each other, 

too. Research suggests that multiple 

roles are better for you than having just 

one. Look out for these signs that you 

are spreading yourself too thin: 

• anxiety 

• depression 

• feeling you don’t have control, or a 

need for too much control 

• forgetfulness 

• headaches 

• lack of energy 

• lack of focus 

• low morale 

• not being able to get things done 

• poor self-esteem 

• short temper 

• trouble sleeping 

• upset stomach 

• withdrawal 

Mental Health 209 
l	 Make time to do things you enjoy and 

that fulfill you. 

l	 Set limits. Be realistic about what you 

can handle at work and in your personal life. Talk to your boss if work 

demands are too big to handle alone.

If you feel overburdened, ask family and friends for help and say “no”

to requests for your time and energy.

Women often put the needs of others 

before their own. 

Hormone rhythms and mood 

Hormones are your body’s chemical 

messengers. They affect many different 

processes in your body. The menstrual 

cycle is one example. Hormones rise 

and fall during the month and make the 

menstrual cycle happen. Many women 

notice physical and mood changes in 

the week or two before their period. We 

know that hormones have an effect on 

the brain chemistry that controls feelings and mood. In particular, estrogen 

appears to have a strong effect on mood 

and mental health. But the exact process 

is still unclear. We do know that depression rates for girls go up suddenly at 

puberty—the time when a girl’s period 

begins. Mood changes right after having 

a baby can range from mild, short-lived 

“blues,” which last 2 weeks or less, to 

major depression, which lasts longer than 

2 weeks. Some women report an increase 

in depressive symptoms in the years before menopause. 

Even though hormones are powerful,

keep in mind that many factors contribute to mood. A woman’s normal hormone rhythms are only one piece of the 

puzzle. 

Taking care of your mental health 

When you take care of your body, you 

likely strive to eat right, stay active, and 

take care to look your best. Your mental 

health needs similar care. In fact, to be 

healthy overall, you need to take care of 

both your body and mind—the two are 

closely connected. If you neglect caring 

for one, the other will suffer. These ideas 

will help you to care for both mind and 

body: 

l	 Build self-esteem. Good self-esteem 

is linked to mental well-being, happiness, and success in many areas of life.

It protects mental health during 

tough times. One way to build selfesteem is to value who you are and 

what you do. This is hard to do if you 

judge yourself by other people’s standards or rely on others to make you 

feel good about yourself. Instead, accept the qualities—both strengths and 

weaknesses—that make you unique 

210 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
 

l	 Set realistic standards and goals.

Take pride in your achievements, both 

small and big. Positive thinking also 

boosts self-esteem. This comes naturally to some people. But it’s a skill you 

can learn, too. Many people are lifted 

up by their spirituality. It can shape 

beliefs and values and be a source of 

comfort in hard times. It can be good 

to tune out the outside world and connect with the spirit within you. 

l	 Find value and purpose in life. People who pursue goals based on their 

own values and dreams enjoy stronger mental well-being. Think about 

your values and dreams. What makes 

you happy? What do you care deeply 

about? What are you good at? If you 

could change one thing in the world,

what would it be? What do you dream 

about? How do you want your friends 

and family to remember you? Use your 

answers to set short-term and longterms goals for yourself. Keep your 

goals realistic. Review them every once 

in a while, and make changes as your 

values and priorities change. 

l	 Learn healthy ways to cope with hard 

times. How do you react to stress,

change, or hardship? Do you see setbacks as failures or merely bumps in 

the road? Do you avoid problems or 

look for solutions? Do you obsess 

about issues without taking action 

to resolve them? If your style needs 

improving, take heart: Positive coping styles and traits can be learned 

with some effort. If you have trouble 

improving thinking patterns on your 

own, a mental health professional can 

help. You might also benefit from lifeskills classes. For example, parenting 

classes can prepare new mothers for 

what to expect. Being informed helps 

people to understand, control, and 

deal with situations that are new and 

stressful. 

Do I have a problem with 

alcohol? 

Many women drink alcohol to cope 

with stress. But some women drink too 

much. Alcohol abuse and addiction 

cause stress in a job and family. Answer these questions to help find out if 

you might have a problem: 

1. Have you ever felt you should cut 

down on your drinking? 

2. Have people criticized your drinking? 

3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty 

about your drinking? 

4. Have you ever had a drink first thing 

in the morning to steady your nerves 

or to get rid of a hangover? 

Talk with your doctor about your drinking if you answered “yes” to one or 

more questions. Even if you answered 

“no” to all the questions, talk to your 

doctor if drinking is causing you problems with your job, relationships, 

health, work, or the law. 

Mental Health 211 
l	 Build healthy relationships. We need 

healthy relationships to grow, thrive,

and sustain us in hard times. They 

also protect from loneliness and isolation, which can lead to depression.

Surround yourself with people who 

encourage and support you. You might 

draw strength from your ethnic or 

cultural community. Relationships that

cause you to feel neglected, shameful, disrespected, or afraid are not 

healthy. Keep in mind that just as you 

need people, you are needed by others.

Reach out and connect. 

What is mental illness? 

Mental illness is a collective term for a 

wide range of mental disorders. Mental disorders are medical conditions 

that disrupt how a person thinks, feels,

and/or acts, resulting in distress and/or 

impaired functioning. Mental illness can 

be disabling, making it hard to meet and 

keep friends, hold a job, manage everyday tasks, or enjoy life. Mental illness is 

very common—affecting about 1 in 4 

U.S. adults each year. Some mental disorders are more common in women. It’s 

not your fault if you have mental illness.

These disorders are real diseases that 

cannot be wished or willed away. Fortunately, recovery is possible from most 

mental disorders. 

Causes of mental illness 

Most mental disorders do not have a 

precise cause. Rather, cause lies in a mix 

of the same forces that shape mental 

health. We do know that biology plays 

a key role in the development of mental 

disorders, as it does with all health and 

illness. For example, PTSD can develop 

after a person is exposed to a very stressful or terrifying event. Yet not everyone 

who experiences trauma gets PTSD. For 

those who do, other factors must make 

them more vulnerable to PTSD. We 

do know that women are more likely 

to develop PTSD than men. We also 

know a link exists between some physical 

diseases and mental illnesses, such as between heart disease and depression. The 

relation between mental illness and other 

diseases is an area of abundant research. 

Sometimes, mental illness can be a 

symptom of another disease. For example, depression can be a symptom of an 

underactive thyroid or overactive thyroid.

When thyroid problems are treated, the 

depressive symptoms go away. 

Faces of mental illness 

Mental illness can affect people of any 

age, race, ethnicity, sex, income, or background. Certain groups of people have 

higher rates of reported mental illness.

Rates of mental illness are much higher 

among the homeless, the incarcerated, 

212 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
and people living in poverty. African 

Americans are overrepresented in these 

vulnerable groups of people. And African Americans with mental health needs 

are much less likely to seek or receive 

professional help. American Indians and 

Alaska Natives have limited access to 

help and appear to have much higher 

rates of depression, including suicide.

Asian Americans have been stereotyped 

as “mentally healthier.” But studies show 

rates of mental illness similar to those 

of other Americans. Hispanic American 

youths are at much greater risk of poor 

mental health than white youths. 

Women and mental illness 

Being a woman puts you at greater risk 

of certain mental disorders, including 

depression, some anxiety disorders, and 

eating disorders. Some mental disorders 

show up differently in women and 

men. An example is attention-deficit/ 

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which 

can cause similar problems for both 

males and females. Yet different symptoms appear to be one reason ADHD is 

often not recognized in girls and women.

Also, it’s not unusual for people to have 

more than one mental disorder at the 

same time. About 15 percent of all adults 

who have a mental disorder in 1 year also 

have problems with drugs or alcohol,

which makes treatment harder. 

Anxiety disorders are the most common 

mental illness. They affect about 40 million American adults each year. For these 

people, feelings of fear, uncertainty, and 

anxiety do not go away and get worse 

over time. They may have chest pains or 

nightmares. They may even be afraid to 

leave home. Most anxiety disorders are 

treatable. Anxiety disorders include: 

l	 generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) 

l	 obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 

l	 panic disorder 

l	 PTSD 

l	 social anxiety disorder 

l	 specific phobias 

Mood disorders affect mood, energy 

level, and ability to function. More than 

20 million American adults have a mood 

disorder. With depression, feelings of 

sadness and hopelessness do not go away.

Severe depression can lead to thoughts 

of death or suicide. Most depressive disorders respond well to treatment. People 

with bipolar disorder have extreme mood 

swings, sometimes with normal mood in 

between. It is a lifelong condition that 

must be carefully managed. Mood disorders include: 

Mental Health 213 
 

l	 major depressive disorder 

l	 dysthymia (diss-THEYE-mee-uh)—

mild, chronic depression 

l	 premenstrual dysphoric (diss-FORihk) disorder (PMDD)—a severe form 

of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 

l	 postpartum depression (See page 215 

for more information.) 

l	 bipolar disorder 

l	 seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—

depressed mood triggered by the 

change in seasons, usually in the fall 

and winter 

Eating disorders involve serious problems in eating behavior, plus extreme 

concern for body shape or weight. Women are much more likely than men to 

have eating disorders. They usually start 

in the teenage years, but some women 

seek treatment for the first time in midlife. Getting help early is important. Eating disorders can cause heart and kidney 

problems and even death. The main types 

of eating disorders are: 

l	 anorexia nervosa—an intense fear of 

getting fat that causes you to not eat,

even though you become too thin 

l	 bulimia nervosa—involves bouts of 

overeating followed by purging, such 

as by throwing up 

l	 binge eating—out-of-control eating 

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

occurs when a person is overly concerned 

about an imagined defect in appearance.

BDD is not an eating disorder. But it 

may be present with an eating disorder,

as well as an anxiety disorder or 

depression. 

Substance abuse and addiction can occur with other mental disorders or be 

a stand-alone problem, which causes 

problems at work and in relationships.

Also, people often use alcohol and drugs 

to cope with life problems. This use can 

lead to abuse and addiction. Drug and 

alcohol addiction is a serious, longlasting problem. There are no easy cures.

But it’s possible to overcome addiction 

with treatment. 

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and 

disabling mental disorder. People who 

have it may hear voices, see things that 

aren’t there, or think that others are reading or controlling their minds. They have 

trouble thinking logically and expressing 

emotion. In women, symptoms usually 

start in the mid-20s to early 30s. Medicines can help many of the symptoms,

but it can take many tries to find the 

right drug. With treatment, many people 

improve enough to have a good quality 

of life. 

214 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
Pregnancy and Depression 

Depression is common during and after pregnancy. 

Pregnant women with depression can have a hard time 

caring for themselves. This can hurt the unborn baby. 

And depression that is not controlled during pregnancy 

triples the risk of postpartum depression (see below). 

You might not know you have depression because some 

normal pregnancy changes cause similar symptoms. So 

it’s important to let your doctor know about any mood 

changes you might be having while you’re pregnant. 

After childbirth, many women get the “baby blues”—
 

feeling sad, weepy, and overwhelmed for a few days. But 

some women develop postpartum depression, a serious but treatable condition that needs a doctor’s help. 

Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the 

first year of birth. In rare cases, a woman might have a severe form called postpartum 

psychosis. Some women don’t tell anyone about their symptoms because they feel 

embarrassed or guilty for having these feelings at a time when they think they should 

be happy. Don’t let this happen to you! Postpartum depression can make it hard to 

take care of your new baby. Infants of mothers with postpartum depression can have 

delays in learning how to talk. They can have problems with emotional bonding. They 

also might have problems with behavior, lower activity levels, sleep problems, and distress. Call your doctor if: 

• Your baby blues don’t go away after 2 weeks. 

• Depressive symptoms get more and more intense. 

• Strong feelings of sadness or anger come on 1 or 2 months after delivery. 

• It is hard for you to perform tasks at work or at home. 

• You cannot care for yourself or your baby. 

• You have thoughts of harming your baby or yourself.
 

Keep in mind that there are ways to treat depression during and after pregnancy. 

Seek help if you find yourself feeling depressed at any time. 

If you are taking medicine for depression and become pregnant, do not stop without talking to your doctor. Not using medicine that you need may be more harmful 

to you and your baby than using the medicine. 

Personality disorders are long-term 

patterns of thoughts and behaviors that 

cause serious problems with relationships and work. People with personality 

disorders have a hard time dealing with 

everyday stresses and problems. They often have stormy relationships with other 

people. Borderline personality disorder 

(BPD) is one of 10 types of personality 

disorders. It has been defined as affecting 

Mental Health 215 
mostly young women. People with BPD 

have problems controlling emotion.

Many, but not all, people with BPD were 

abused or neglected as young children. 

Alzheimer’s disease is not a mental 

illness. For more information on Alzheimer’s disease, see the Healthy Aging 

chapter on page 221. 

How to know when you need help 

Mental illness can be mild or severe. 

Even though mental illness is widespread, only about 1 in 17 Americans 

with mental illness is severely debilitated

as a result. Many people with mild forms

of mental illness might not seek help,

even though their quality of life is suffering. If emotional problems interfere 

with daily living, you should talk to your 

doctor. Keep in mind that professional 

help might benefit you in rough times,

even if you do not have a diagnosable 

condition. 

Stigma: A barrier to treatment and 

recovery 

Stigma, negative ideas linked to mental 

illness, is the biggest barrier to getting 

better. Many people don’t seek help for 

mental health problems because they 

are ashamed, even though treatment is 

available. One reason stigma persists 

is because mental illness is still widely 

misunderstood. Here are some common 

myths about mental illness: 

l	 Mental illness is not a real illness, like 

cancer or heart disease. 

l	 Mental illness is caused by emotional 

or personal weakness. 

l	 Children don’t get mental illness. 

l	 People with mental illness are violent. 

l	 People with mental illness can will it 

away if they really want to. 

Your culture also can influence whether 

you think it’s okay to seek help. Seeking 

help and drawing support from loved 

ones who understand is the only way to 

get better. Don’t let stigma stand in the

way of getting help! 

Feeling hopeless? 

If you are feeling hopeless or thinking about death or suicide, get help right away! Call this toll-free number: (800) 

273-TALK (8255). You will reach the National Suicide 

Prevention Lifeline. This service is available to anyone, 

24 hours a day, every day of the year. With help, it’s possible to feel good again. 

Where to go for help 

There are many types of mental health 

professionals. They include: 

l	 certified alcohol and drug abuse 


counselors
 

l	 clinical social workers 

l	 faith-based counselors 

l	 licensed professional counselors 

l	 marital and family therapists 

l	 mental health counselors 

l	 nurse psychotherapists 

216 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
l	 psychiatrists 

l	 psychologists 

A good place to start looking for help is 

the doctor who normally cares for you.

Your doctor can suggest mental health 

professionals based on the nature of your 

problem. If you do not have a regular 

doctor, contact a community mental 

health center near you. These centers can 

help you find a doctor or mental health 

counselor, even if you cannot afford to 

pay for care. If you don’t feel comfortable with the professional you choose, it’s 

okay to contact somebody else. Feeling 

comfortable with the doctor or counselor 

helping you is important to getting 

better. 

Treating mental illness 

Today, many treatment options can help 

people with mental health problems and 

illness. Thanks to improved understanding of the brain and biology, new medicines are making it possible for people 

with serious disorders to work and enjoy 

a fulfilling life. Talking face-to-face with 

a mental health professional is another 

important tool for treating mental health 

problems. This is called psychotherapy.

Some types are: 

l	 behavioral therapy—seeks to change 

destructive behavior 

l	 cognitive therapy—seeks to change or 

get rid of destructive thought patterns 

l	 family therapy—involves every family 

member in the discussion and solving 

of problems 

l	 group therapy—helps a small group of 

people with similar problems through 

use of a facilitator 

l	 movement/art/music therapy—helps 

people to express emotions 

l	 psychoanalysis—seeks to understand 

how past experiences influence mental 

health 

Treating a mental health problem often 

involves more than one type of therapy,

such as using medicine and behavior 

therapy. A problem might be helped 

with only a few sessions of counseling.

Or treatment might last years. With 

severe mental illness, treatment in a hospital or outpatient clinic sometimes is 

necessary. Let your health care provider 

know if you don’t begin to feel better after starting treatment. Keep in mind that 

recovery can take time. 

Recovery is a journey 

The sooner a mental disorder is discovered, the better the chance for full 

recovery. Unlike most disabling physical 

illnesses, mental illness often begins early 

in life. Also, there is no lab test to tell 

if you have a problem that needs help.

For these reasons, it’s important to talk 

with your doctor about any concerns you 

might be having as soon as possible. This 

way, if you do have a mental health problem or illness, you can start treatment 

early and begin a journey toward feeling 

good again. n

Mental Health 217 
One Woman’s Story
 

How could 

the horrible 

gastrointestinal 

symptoms I was 

experiencing 

be caused by 

depression?

On the day I came home from the hospital with my beautiful baby daughter, my world began to disintegrate. I was hit with intense nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and fainting. Breastfeeding my baby was out of the question. Every time I held her to 

my breast, I had to quickly lay her back down so I could run to the bathroom. 

During the first 3 months of my daughter’s life, I 

was hospitalized twice, separated for a week at 

a time from her and my 16-month-old son. I was 

transformed from a very healthy, vibrant, and 

physically active 30-year-old to someone unable 

to perform even the simplest everyday tasks. I 

was devastated. I was a failure as a mom and 

couldn’t even get out of bed. I wanted to die. 

During my second hospital stay, a nurse gently 

suggested that I might have postpartum depression. I was stunned. How could the horrible 

gastrointestinal symptoms I was experiencing be 

caused by depression? I could understand how 

I could be depressed because of the sickness I 

was suffering, but not the other way around. And 

I had never heard of postpartum depression. But 

I took her suggestion to heart and quickly sought 

a diagnosis, information, and help. 

I started taking an antidepressant and soon felt 

nearly like my former self, able to take care of 

my babies and function around the house. I also 

immediately began seeing a psychologist and 

after about a year of therapy, I got my life back. 

And not only that, I went on to have another beautiful baby girl a few years later, armed 

with the knowledge I needed in case postpartum depression struck again.
	

When I look back on that horrible time, I cringe, knowing that there are still new mothers 

out there who are dealing with the exact same thing. There is so much that needs to be 

done to spread awareness of perinatal mood disorders. I never hesitate to share my story 

with anyone who will listen. If I am able to reach out and help even one new mother, then 

what I went through will have been worth it. 

Kristin 

Chandler, Arizona 

218 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
For More Information... 

Office on Women’s Health, HHS 

200 Independence Ave SW, Room 712E 

Washington, DC 20201
 

Web site: www.womenshealth.gov/mh
 

Phone number: (800) 994-9662, 
 

(888) 220-5446 TDD 

National Center for Posttraumatic Stress 

Disorder, VA 

Web site: www.ncptsd.va.gov
 

Phone number: (802) 296-6300
 

National Institute of Mental Health, NIH 

6001 Executive Blvd, Room 8184, MSC 
 

9663
 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
 

Web site: www.nimh.nih.gov
 

Phone number: (866) 615-6464, 
 

(866) 415-8051 TTY 

National Mental Health Information 

Center, SAMHSA 

PO Box 42557
 

Washington, DC 20015
 

Web site: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov 
 

Phone number: (800) 789-2647, 
 

(866) 889-2647 TDD 

American Psychiatric Association 

1000 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1825
 

Arlington, VA 22209
 

Web site: www.healthyminds.org
 

Phone number: (888) 357-7924
 

American Psychological Association 

750 First St NE
 

Washington, DC 20002-4242
 

Web site: www.apa.org
 

www.apahelpcenter.org
 

Anxiety Disorders Association of America 

8730 Georgia Ave, Suite 600
 

Silver Spring, MD 20910
 

Web site: www.adaa.org
 

Mental Health America 

2000 N Beauregard St, 6th Floor
 

Alexandria, VA 22311 
 

Web site: www.mentalhealthamerica.net
 

Phone number: (800) 969-6642, 
 

(800) 433-5959 TTY 

National Alliance on Mental Illness 

Colonial Place Three
 

2107 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300
 

Arlington, VA 22201-3042
 

Web site: www.nami.org 
 

Phone number: (800) 950-6264
 

National Center for Girls and Women 

with AD/HD 

3268 Arcadia Pl NW
 

Washington, DC 20015
 

Web site: www.ncgiadd.org
 

Phone number: (888) 238-8588
 

National Eating Disorders Association 

603 Stewart St, Suite 803
 

Seattle, WA 98101
 

Web site: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
 

Phone number: (800) 931-2237
 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

Web site: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.
 
 

org
 
 

Phone number: (800) 273-8255, 
 


(800) 799-4889 TTY 

Postpartum Support International 

Web site: www.postpartum.net
 

Phone number: (800) 944-4773
 

Mental Health 219