United States

International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression
2017-D Renard Ct.
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone: 410-268-004
http://www.ifred.org/

From the site: "The International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred), is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to researching the causes of depression, to support those dealing with depression, and to combat the stigma associated with depression."

Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance
730 North Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, Illinois 60610-3526
http://dbsalliance.org/

From the site: "The Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation's leading patient directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses; depression and bipolar disorder.  The organization fosters an understanding about the impact and management of these life threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information written in a language the general public can understand .  DSBA supports research to promote more timely diagnosis, develop more effective and tolerable treatment  The organization works to ensure that people living with mood disorders are treated equitably."

Commission On Lawyer Assitance Programs
American Bar Association
541 North Fairbanks Court
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3314
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/colap/home.html

In 1988, the ABA created the Lawyer Assistance Program (CoLAP).  Its purpose is to educate the legal profession on both the legal and treatment issues related to mental illness and substance abuse.  The Commission also supports the development of lawyer assistance programs throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britian.  It publishes a Directory of State and Local Lawyer Assistance Programs, educational materials, pamphlets, audiotapes and videotapes.

American Psychiatric Association
1400 K Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
www.psych.org/

Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association
Meyer 3-181
600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21287-7381
www.med.jhu.edu/drada

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, Virginia 22201-3042
http://www.nami.org/

National Institute of Mental Health
Information and Inquiries Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9663
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

National Mental Health Association
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-2971
www.nmha.org

Center for Mental Health Services
P.O. Box 42490
Washington, D.C. 20015
www.mentalhealth.org

Depression Is Real
http://www.depressionisreal.org/

From the site: The Depression Is Real "Coalition is a group of physician, patient and constituency groups that has come together to run an educational campaign about depression.  These groups are concerned about the confusing messages in popular culture suggesting that depression is 'just the blues' or worse, a 'made up disease'.  The goal of the Coalition is to help people suffering from depression, their families, friends and general public to understand these essential facts about depression."

National Organization for Seasonal Affective Disorder
P.O. Box 40133
Washington, D.C. 20016
www.nosad.org

From the site:  "NOSAD is a small non-profit organization dedicated to helping people affected by SAD find support and treatment for their illness."


1.   Massachusetts General Hospital
      Boston, MA
      617-726-2000
      http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/

2.   Johns Hopkins Hospital
      Baltimore, MD
      410-502-4003/410-955-5464

3.   New York-Presbyterian Hospital
      New York, NY
      877-NYP-WELL
      http://www.nyp.org/

4.   McLean Hospital
      Belmont, MA
      800-333-0338/617-855-2000
      http://www.mcleanhospital.org/

5.    University of California, Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Hospital
       Los Angeles, CA
       800-825-9989/310-825-9989
       http://www.healthcare.ucla.edu/npih

6.    Menninger Clinic
       Houston, TX
       800-351-9058/713-275-5000
       http://www.meninger.edu/

7.   Yale-New Haven Hospital
      New Haven, CT
      203-688-4242
      http://www.ynhh.org/

8.   Stanford Hospital and Clinics
      Palo Alto, CA
      650-723-4000
      http://www.stanfordhospital.com/

9.   Sheppard and Pratt Medical Center
      Baltimore, MD
      410-938-5000/410-938-3000
      http://www.sheppardpratt.org/

10.  Duke University Medical Center
       Durham, NC
       888-ASK-DUKE/919-684-8111
       http://www.mc.duke.edu/

Online Support

Depression Tribe
From the site: "Depression tribe is a network of on-line community websites designed to bring people together with similar life issues [including depression] together from around the world who are in need ot support.  We believe that individuals become empowered to help themselves and others when they feel a part of something larger.  Depression Tribe offers members a convenient and safe place for individuals with similar challenges to connect."  Free service.  Create you own profile page and share.
www.depressiontribe.com

Support Quest Online Community
From the site: "At Support Quest, you won't find just another online e-mail list.  We're a caring community who not only understands your battle, but are here to help each other cope in these common struggles that we all share.  Our forums are designed to meed your individual needs in a secure and safe online environment.  The most common thread to all of our online forums, available free to our registered users, is very simply, "you are not alone."
www.davidorwig.net/support/

Walkers in Darkness
Created in 1991, this site offers online support for those who suffer from all types of Mood disorders, including depression.
www.walker.org

Canada

Ontario Lawyers Assitance Program
5025 Orbitor Drive, Building 2, Suite 220
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4Y5
Confidential Professional Help and Peer Support.  Contact at www.olap.ca or phone (in the Greater Toronto Area) 905-238-1740 or (Toll-free) at 1-877-576-6227.
From the site: "OLAP provides effective and timely assistance, based on the principles of confidentiality and voluntary access, to members of the legal profession and their families.  Assistance is provided through one-on-one peer support, assessment, referrals to services, counselling, links with related services, education and information."

The Toronto Depression Meetup Group
From the site:  "Meetup with other local people who are coping with depression for discussion, support and who are in search of other's dealing with the issue of depression to share their experiences.  This is a non-judgmental and interactive group."   Visit their site at www.depressionmeetup.com  for support group information in and around the Toronto area.



New York State

New York State Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Program

This program provides education and confidential assistance to lawyers, judges, law school students and immediate family members who are affected by depression and other mental health issues.

Contact:
Pat Spataro, Director
1-800-255-0569
Go to http://www.nysba.org and click on the heading "For Attorneys" and then sub-heading "Lawyers Assistance Program".

National Alliance on Mental Illness
New York State Offices
Phone: (518) 462-2000 or (800) 950-3228
Address:
260 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210-1312
Go to http://www.nami.org and click on "State and Local NAMI's" and then "New York State".

Contained in this is site is a wonderful and helpful list of local affiliates/groups from around New York state organized by city with contact information.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital
New York, NY
877-NYP-WELL
http://www.nyp.org
(Recently ranked as the third leading psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report.)


Western New York

Lawyers With Depression Buffalo Support Group
This is a group of lawyers (male and female) which meets twice a month for fellowship and sharing.   This group is volunteer-run and confidential.  Please remember that the phone numbers listed below are not crisis lines.   If you are in need of emergency assistance,  please call 911 or 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-784-7433 or website http://www.hopeline.com/

For further confidential information about this support group, contact:

Ginger B. Maiman
Phone: 481-3486


Capital Region Lawyers' Depression Support Group
This is a group of lawyers that meet once a month for fellowship and sharing.  This group is volunteer-run and confidential.

For further confidential information about this group, contact:

Janet M. Thayer, Esq.
Work: 518-956-8050
E-mail: JThayer@uamail.albany.edu.

Brylin Hospitals: Private Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospital

It is crucial to get the best help possible when dealing with psychiatric and substance abuse problems. Fortunately, there's a best option. BryLin Hospitals is the only private treatment facility in the Buffalo/Niagara region that provides a variety of behavioral health care programs, services and expertise for such issues. Our talented team of professionals has been providing compassionate care since 1955.

BryLin Hospitals provides inpatient psychiatric services for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric patients. Outpatient treatment services are offered to persons experiencing substance abuse problems.

 Please call 1-716-886-8200 or visit their website at http://www.brylin.com/


Depression & BiPolar Support Alliance Chapters in Western New York
This is a national organization with local chapters created to serve people and their families who struggle with depression and bi-polar illness.  Check out their website at http://www.dbsalliance.org/.   DBSA chapters are volunteer-run and many of the numbers listed are personal phone numbers.  Due to this, please be considerate of the time and day you are calling.  Also, please remember these are not crisis lines.  If you are in need of emergency assistance, please call 911 or 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-784-7433 or visit http://www.hopeline.com

Amherst
For further information, contact:
Richard D'Amato     
Phone: 716-316-6795     

Niagara Falls
For further information, contact:
Edith Hunt      
Phone: 716-283-2708     

Rochester & Canandaigua
For further information, contact:
Richard Griswold
Phone: 585-234-8432
http://www.dbsaroch.org/
 
Webster
For further information, contact:
Jim McCartan
Phone: 585-545-4433

The Mental Health Association of Erie County, Inc.
This organization provides provides programs and services for adults, children and families while providing advocacy on behalf of mental health consumers and family members.  All programs and services are provided free of charge.

Depression Support Group:
Mondays at 1:00 B 3:00 pm.
Thursday at 6:00 pm
Sundays at 1:00 pm

All meetings are held at Action for Mental Health located at 1585 Kenmore Avenue in Kenmore, New York.  For further information, check out this organizations website at
http://www.eriemha.org.   You can also contact their self-help coordinator at 871-0581.

The Buffalo Mindfulness Group

This group meets each and every Wednesday at the The Little White Church (Newman Center) on Frontier Road at the corner of the Audubon Parkway.  This location , on the perimeter of the University at Buffalo North (Amherst) Campus, has ample and free parking.  Meditation begins at 7:30 p.m. (doors open around 7:00 p.m.) and sessions end around 9 p.m.  For more information, go to their website at http://www.buffalodharma.org

Himalayan Institute of Buffalo
Center which teaches classes in yoga, nutrition and eastern approaches to mental health.  Very nice bookstore inside.
Located in downtown buffalo at 841 Delaware Avenue.  For information about classes, contact them at 883-2223 or visit their website at http://www.hibuffalo.org


The Mental Health Association of Rochester
The Mental Health Organization provides information and support to individuals, families, co-workers and friends who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses.

Office Locations:
320 North Goodman Street
Rochester, New York 14607

10 Park Place
P.O. Box 206
Avon, New York 14414

For information about support groups, contact: (585) 325-3145
http://www.mharochester.org.

Abbey of the Genessee
A monastery home to a community of comtemplative monks in the Catholic tradition located 34 miles south of Rochester, New York at 3245 River Road in Piffard, New York.  They offer retreats for quiet time, reflection and communion with the monks.  For retreat information and the availability of dates, e-mail Fr. Jerome at JeromeMachar@GenesseeAbbey.org or phone 585-243-2220

Springwater Center for Meditative Inquiry
A retreat center in the Zen tradition headed by teacher, Toni Packer.  Located on over 200 acres of beautiful country land with scenic trails 45 miles south of Rochester at 7179 Mill Street, Springwater, New York.  For retreat information, call 585-669-2141 or visit their website at http://www.springwatercenter.org/