Healthy Santa Cruz County - support

Local Links

• Local Help & Information: Family Support Groups
  The library's Community Information Database can help you find organizations in Santa Cruz County which offer family support groups. Use this link to search the CID.
  Browse related subjects: support
• Local Help & Information: Pregnancy / Childbirth Support Groups
  The library's Community Information Database can help you find organizations in Santa Cruz County which offer programs, help, or further information about pregnancy or childbirth support groups. Use this link to search the CID.
  Browse related subjects: childbirth, local information, pregnancy, support, women's health
• Local Help & Information: Quit Smoking
  The library's Community Information Database can help you find organizations in Santa Cruz County which offer programs, help or further information about smoking cessation. Use this link to search the CID.
  Browse related subjects: healthy lifestyle, heart disease, local information, lungs, men's health, quit smoking, senior health, support, teens, women's health

Recommended Websites

• Al-Anon/Alateen
  Help for families and friends of alcoholics. Special features: Meeting-finder for US, Canada and Puerto Rico; 20 self-test questionnaires; also available in Spanish and French. From: Al-Anon/Alateen World Service Office.
  Browse related subjects: addiction, alcohol, drugs, recommended website, support, teens
• All About Breast Cancer
  Special features: Treatment decision tools; finding treatment centers/health professionals; cancer drug guide; alternative and complementary therapies; clinical trials update; reproducible fact sheets; suggested questions for patient's physician. From: American Cancer Society.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, breast cancer, cancer, complementary medicine, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, medications, recommended website, research, support, women's health
• Alzheimer's Caregivers - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Practical tips; personal stress reduction; disaster preparedness; statistics; legal and financial issues; newsletter. From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: alzheimers, caregivers, MedlinePlus, recommended website, senior health, support
• American Cancer Society
  This excellent website is up-to-date, comprehensive and easy to use. Special sections: "Managing Your Cancer Experience," "Support Programs & Services" and "Resources for Healthy Living." Individual sections for special user groups: patients, families, survivors, professionals or general information seekers; treatment decision tools; links to support groups; message boards. From: American Cancer Society.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, breast cancer, cancer, clinical trials, complementary medicine, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, medical tests, medications, men's health, prostate cancer, self-care tools, senior health, support, surgery, testicular cancer, women's health
• American Diabetes Association
  Special features: Recipes and exercise suggestions; "ADA Live" question and answer sessions; daily news bulletin; interactive message boards; e-newsletters; advocacy; "Ask the Pharmacist." From: American Diabetes Association.
  Browse related subjects: diabetes, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, medications, men's health, prescriptions, recommended website, research, self-care tools, self-help, support, women's health
• American Heart Association
  Special features: "Heart & Stroke Encyclopedia"; diet and nutrition health tools; instructor information and downloadable training materials - CPR and ECC courses; "Heart Profilers," free, confidential, personalized treatment options reports; warning signs: heart attack and stroke; family health history tree; research updates; recipes; interactive quizzes; podcast link; Spanish available. From: American Heart Association.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, cardiovascular, clinical trials, complementary medicine, diagnosis, diet, exercise, food pyramid, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, heart disease, medical tests, men's health, prescriptions, quit smoking, recommended website, research, self-care tools, senior health, stroke, support, toll-free numbers, weight control, women's health
• Breast Cancer DIY
  An up-to-date and informative website created for women with breast cancer by women with breast cancer. With an emphasis on networking and sharing realistic, helpful information, this site features medical links, news and support resources, along with a blog and various discussion forums.
  Browse related subjects: breast cancer, cancer, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, recommended website, research, support, women's health
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength
  This organization, formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, works to provide information about peer support services available for anyone touched by breast cancer. Offers variety of interactive tools; available in 7 languages.
  Browse related subjects: breast cancer, cancer, recommended website, research, support
• Cancer - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Up-to-date news on trials, treatments and research; links to search further by specific topic; some available in Spanish as well as easy-to-read format. Online tutorials and health check tools are also available. See also from MedlinePlus: "Living with Cancer." From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, breast cancer, cancer, clinical trials, complementary medicine, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, medications, men's health, prostate cancer, recommended website, research, senior health, support, testicular cancer, women's health
• Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)
  Special features: Living with IBD - lifestyle suggestions; guides for children, teens, parents, and teachers; webcasts; news, advocacy, and research updates. From: Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, clinical trials, diagnosis, diet, digestive disease, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, medications, prescriptions, recommended website, research, support, surgery
• Crohn's Disease - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Interactive tutorials and videos; Spanish and easy-to-read formats available; links to wide variety of related, relevant topics. From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, diagnosis, diet, digestive disease, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, medications, MedlinePlus, recommended website, research, self-care tools, self-help, support, surgery
• Depression
  Special features: Comprehensive coverage (available in large print) includes signs and symptoms, complications, treatment, coping and self-care skills; complementary and alternative medicine. From: Mayo Clinic.
  Browse related subjects: depression, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, mental conditions / illnesses, mental health, recommended website, research, support
• Diabetes - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Interactive tutorial; clinical trials update; health check tools; Spanish and easy-to-read versions available. From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, diabetes, diet, healthy lifestyle, medications, men's health, recommended website, research, self-care tools, self-help, senior health, support, women's health
• Diet and Weight Loss
  Special features: Interactive "Diet & Weight Loss Toolkit," meal planners, health check tools and calculators, weight loss journal, and online "Weight Loss Community" message board. From Revolution Health
  Browse related subjects: diet, exercise, fitness, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, recommended website, self-care tools, self-help, support, weight control
• Eating Disorders
  Comprehensive but easy to understand booklet can be downloaded from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
  Browse related subjects: anorexia, bulimia, diet, eating disorders, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, mental conditions / illnesses, mental health, recommended website, research, support, women's health
• Family Village
  Special Features: Broad coverage, particularly helpful for parents of children with disabilities. Practical information about hundreds of conditions and diseases. Easy to use, appealing graphics. From: University of Wisconsin, Madison.
  Browse related subjects: AD/HD, caregivers, children's health, developmental disorders, disability, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, household safety, learning disorders, parenting, recommended website, research, self-care tools, support
• GI Patient Information
  Special Features: "Digestive Health Web Book," a new Web-based resource written by experts from distinguished nationwide medical centers. Information for patients and their families, including diagnosis and the latest treatment options. From: American College of Gastroenterology.
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, diagnosis, diet, digestive disease, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, lab tests, medical tests, medications, men's health, prescriptions, recommended website, research, self-care tools, self-help, senior health, support, women's health
• Guide to Quitting Smoking
  Special Features: Help and wide range of information (including many resources in Spanish) from the American Cancer Society. Toll-free hotline, plus online and other support.
  Browse related subjects: breathing, cancer, healthy lifestyle, lung disease, lungs, men's health, quit smoking, recommended website, research, self-help, senior health, support, toll-free numbers, women's health
• Healthy Minds - Healthy Lives
  Special features: Reproducible fact sheets and "Let's Talk Facts" brochures; audio and video news releases; Spanish available; find-a-psychiatrist. From: American Psychiatric Association.
  Browse related subjects: addiction, bipolar , depression, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, mental conditions / illnesses, mental health, recommended website, research, support
• Learn About Diabetes
  Comprehensive, up-to-date information covering lifestyle issues, medications and research; four free online learning classes. From: Joslin Diabetes Center.
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, diabetes, diagnosis, diet, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, medications, men's health, recommended website, research, senior health, support, women's health
• Lung Diseases - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Links to wide range of specific lung conditions; interactive tutorial; Spanish available; news, clinical trials and statistics. From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: allergies, asthma, breathing, clinical trials, diagnosis, emphysema, healthy lifestyle, lungs, MedlinePlus, quit smoking, recommended website, research, support
• Mental Health America
  Mental Health America, formerly the National Mental Health Association, provides information about many forms of mental illness, treatment options, and medication resources. In addition, free brochures and reports are available.
  Browse related subjects: addiction, bipolar , depression, diagnosis, eating disorders, medications, mental conditions / illnesses, recommended website, research, suicide, support
• Mental Health America
  Special features: Comprehensive coverage; crisis phone center (free); Spanish available; treatment and support group locator. From: Mental Health America (formerly known as National Mental Health Association).
  Browse related subjects: depression, mental conditions / illnesses, mental health, recommended website, self-care tools, self-help, support
• Multiple Sclerosis - MedlinePlus
  Special features: News; research and treatment updates; interactive tutorial; Spanish available. From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, MedlinePlus, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, recommended website, research, research database, support
• Multiple Sclerosis Information Page (NINDS)
  Special features: Clinical trials and research updates; links to local / national organizations; publications and fact sheets. From: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH).
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, recommended website, research, support
• National Cancer Institute
  Special features: Questions answered via toll-free number, e-mail or online chat; reproducible fact sheets; help finding clinical trials and physicians; monthly e-bulletin; Spanish available. From: NIH / National Cancer Institute.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, breast cancer, cancer, clinical trials, diagnosis, men's health, prostate cancer, recommended website, research, support, testicular cancer, women's health
• National Parkinson Foundation
  Special features: Discussion Corner - send questions to physicians and related health specialists; message board; personal stories; surveys and questionnaires. From: National Parkinson Foundation.
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, neurological disorders, parkinson's disease, recommended website, research, support
• NIMH: What Is Depression?
  Special features: Signs and symptoms; information about medications, treatment and services; downloadable booklets, fact sheets, and other publications on depression. From: NIMH (National Institute on Mental Health).
  Browse related subjects: clinical trials, depression, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, mental conditions / illnesses, recommended website, research, support
• Oncolink
  Special features: News / podcasts; patients' art and poetry; tip of the day; ask-the-cancer-expert service; available in Spanish. From: University of Pennsylvania.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, breast cancer, cancer, clinical trials, healthy lifestyle, men's health, prostate cancer, recommended website, senior health, support, testicular cancer, women's health
• Online Diabetes Resources
  Special features: Extensive detail, although older format and large size make it somewhat difficult to navigate; emphasis on mailing lists and newsgroups, many in languages other than English. From: David Mendosa.
  Browse related subjects: diabetes, diagnosis, diet, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, medications, men's health, recommended website, research, self-care tools, self-help, senior health, support, women's health
• Self-Help Group Sourcebook Online
  Designed to be a starting point for finding every type of national, international, and online self-help support group available. Searchable by keyword. From: American Self-Help Clearinghouse.
  Browse related subjects: recommended website, self-help, support
• Smoking: Steps to Help You Break the Habit
  Special Features: Wide range of helpful information and resources, including treatment options, from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
  Browse related subjects: breathing, healthy lifestyle, lung disease, lungs, men's health, quit smoking, recommended website, senior health, support, women's health
• Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders
  Special Features: Emphasis on support and information. Casual, appealing format, live chatrooms, treatment finder. From: CRC Health.
  Browse related subjects: anorexia, bulimia, diet, eating disorders, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, mental conditions / illnesses, mental health, recommended website, support, women's health
• Ulcerative Colitis - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Interactive tutorials and videos; Spanish and easy-to-read formats available; links to wide variety of related, relevant topics. From: NLM / NIH.
  Browse related subjects: alternative medicine, clinical trials, complementary medicine, diagnosis, diet, digestive disease, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, medications, MedlinePlus, men's health, nutrition, recommended website, research, self-care tools, self-help, senior health, support, women's health
• Weight Control - MedlinePlus
  Special features: Recipes for healthy living, interactive health check tools, research, clinical trials, news and more. From: NIH / NLM.
  Browse related subjects: diet, food pyramid, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, MedlinePlus, nutrition, recommended website, self-care tools, self-help, support, weight control
• What is Major Depression?
  Special features: Online support and discussion groups; fact sheets; treatment locator; support for friends and families. From: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
  Browse related subjects: depression, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, medications, mental conditions / illnesses, mental health, self-care tools, self-help, support
• What It Takes to Lose Weight
  Features up-to-date, easy-to-understand information from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
  Browse related subjects: diet, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, recommended website, support, weight control

Databases

• Health and Wellness Resource Center
  Provides health-related information from more than 700 health/medical journals and hundreds of pamphlets (many with full text), 2,200 magazines, and various reference sources.