[Guest Post] Mental Health Resources in California

*This post is by Sarah of Puss Reboots*

Parents of children (under the age of 18) with mental health issues should know about California's Mental Health Parity Law (AB 88).

Since July 2000, California health plans have been required by law to cover treatment for nine diagnoses of severe mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED) in children.

· Schizophrenia
· Schizoaffective Disorder
· Bipolar Disorder
· Major Depression
· Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
· Panic Disorder
· Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa)
· Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder
· Serious Emotional Disturbance in children and adolescents

The law is aimed at children under the age of eighteen and they must meet certain criteria listed on the SPD Bay Area site.

Regardless of age, there are a number of online resources for Californians suffering from mental health problems:

· NAMI California
· Depression Screening
· California Resource Guides at SAMHSA
· About.com California
· Bay Area Community Resources
· MHEWC
· Freedom From Fear
· MentalHelp.net
· California Department of Mental Health
· California Department of Education
· California Black Women's Health Project
· California Department of Managed Care

Plant a Flower for Children's Mental Health

Today's Parent magazine has a campaign for Healthy Kids 2009. Read about the Healthy Kids campaign.

Want to plant a flower for Children's Mental Health?

Also check out:

Parenting a Child with Bipolar Disorder

What to do when access to treatment for your mentally ill child is delayed

Kids and Anxiety

Mental Health Resources (Canada)