Finding Support

For Individuals and Support Networks

Vistagen’s core goal is to radically improve mental health worldwide. With that clear vision always in mind, and knowing that no mental health challenge is routine or resolvable with a “one-size-fits-all” solution, we are committed to advancing development of innovative drug candidates with the potential to go beyond the current standard of care for anxiety and depression.

In addition to our steadfast commitment to improving the standard of care for anxiety and depression, it is important that we work to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and provide education and information about resources for those seeking help. Equally important is our role in helping to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. No one is immune from the development of mental health challenges, especially anxiety and depression disorders. In a time when we are finding our communities struggling, it is important that we normalize finding help for mental illness and not allow a negative stigma to interfere with efforts to find available support and care. At Vistagen, we believe we can help by opening and expanding the conversation focused on rejecting the narrative developed by those who continue to stigmatize mental illness.

The following advocacy and nonprofit organization sites provide information, resources, and support for individuals grappling with mental health challenges, caretakers supporting those with mental health challenges and seeking support, as well as individuals committed to learning more about mental health and how they can help change the narrative.

Anxiety

Depression

The UCLA Grand Challenges initiative connects faculty, students and supporters from all disciplines to work together, adopting a holistic approach to solve critical issues. They bring passionate participants together to dream big and think grand about what can be achieved when sights are set on common goals. The UCLA Depression Grand Challenge team has assembled a collaborative human network that spans the globe and connects more than a hundred visionaries in science and scholarship, in partnership with the community.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is a peer-directed national organization focusing on the two most prevalent mental health conditions, depression and bipolar disorder, which, according to DBSA, affect more than 21 million Americans, account for 90% of the nation’s suicides every year, and cost $23 billion in lost workdays and other workplace losses. DBSA is led by and created for individuals living with a mood disorder. DBSA’s extensive online and print resources and nearly 650 support groups and more than 250 chapters offer current, readily understandable information about depression and bipolar disorder and empowering tools focused on an integrated approach to wellness.

Maternal Mental Health

The Center for Women’s Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital provides state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with female reproductive function including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), pregnancy-associated mood disturbance, postpartum psychiatric illness, and peri- and post- menopausal depression. Clinical care is complemented by research in each of these areas ranging from studies of a spectrum of treatments for women who suffer from PMDD, postpartum depression, and depression in menopause to longitudinal observational studies for women who suffer from mood disorders during pregnancy.

Postpartum Support International (PSI) was founded in 1987 by Jane Honikman in Santa Barbara, California. The purpose of the organization is to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum. PSI’s goal is to provide current information, resources, education, and to advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health. Approximately 15% of all women will experience postpartum depression following the birth of a child. Up to 10% will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy. When the mental health of the mother is compromised, it affects the entire family.

Suicide Prevention

The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The caring, qualified responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances. Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves.

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline know it is possible to reduce deaths from suicide like we have reduced heart disease fatalities and other leading causes of death. For every person who dies by suicide annually, there are another 278 people who have thought seriously about suicide who don’t kill themselves, and nearly 60 who have survived a suicide attempt. The overwhelming majority of these individuals will go on to live out their lives. These untold stories of hope and recovery are the stories of suicide prevention, stories that inform the Lifeline and the Action Alliance’s efforts to prevent more suicides every day.

The JED Foundation equips America’s teens and young adults with the skills and support they need to grow into healthy, thriving adults by helping schools evaluate and strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems to safeguard individual and community health, developing expert resources and create powerful partnerships to ensure more teens and young adults get access to the resources and support they need to navigate life’s challenges and educating and equipping students, families and communities to know when and how to support others who are in distress or struggling with a mental health issue.

Mission 22 is a non-profit who combats the ever-rising veteran suicide rate. According to a Department of Veterans Affairs study, each day over twenty veterans are lost to suicide. Mission 22 wants to bring that number to zero. It does this with three main programs; veteran treatment programs, memorials and national awareness. Mission 22 provides treatment programs to veterans for Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and other issues they might be facing. It organizes events and builds memorials to create social impact and awareness for these issues. Mission 22 also has an Ambassador volunteer program for people to get involved as well. Ambassadors educate the public on veteran issues, help get veterans into Mission 22 treatment programs and create resources in their communities. Through these three programs, it enables a push for the betterment of our nation's heroes and stands united in the war against veteran suicide.

Benzodiazepine Abuse

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. On September 23, 2020, the FDA announced in a Drug Safety Communication that it is requiring an update to the Boxed Warning, the agency’s most prominent safety warning, and requiring class-wide labeling changes for all benzodiazepines to include the risks of abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence and withdrawal reactions to help improve their safe use.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

Opioid Addiction

American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 5,500 physicians, clinicians and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction.

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is focused on providing help that families aren’t finding elsewhere, not only in preventing substance use among kids, but in getting help for those teens and young adults who are already struggling with drugs or drinking. Programs include direct service and support to parents, both through the Parents Helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE) and through an engaged and growing online community.

With partners in science, business, education, government, as well as fellow nonprofits and dedicated parents, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is the nonprofit dedicated to helping families whose son or daughter is struggling with substance use.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD

PTSD Alliance is an association of advocacy and professional organizations for individuals suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Alliance members have made it their mission to increase awareness of this common and serious health condition to PTSD sufferers, their families, and the general public. The PTSD Alliance seeks to educate the public and those at risk of developing PTSD about the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of this health condition.

Additional Mental Health Resources

Empowering people through awareness and education.

Finding Support

Finding Support

For Individuals and Support Networks

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