Mental Health Basics with Dr. JB: Conditions & Treatment

A psychiatrist-taught course on when and how to seek help for yourself and your loved ones.

This course is designed to help learners understand when and how to seek mental health support for themselves and others. One in five adults in the United States will experience some form of mental illness. Moreover, more than half of adults with a mental illness did not receive mental health services in the previous year. This course aims to increase awareness of common mental health conditions and provide learners with the tools to help lessen the burden of these illnesses.

The first half of the course focuses on when to seek help. It includes overviews of some of the most common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders. This section also includes information about suicide prevention and safety planning. A safety plan is an important tool to have available during times of crisis.

The second half of the course focuses on where to find help and what to expect in different treatment settings. These settings include outpatient appointments, behavioral health areas within emergency departments, and psychiatric inpatient units. The course also discusses when therapy or medication may be recommended and what to expect after treatment begins.

The ultimate goal of this course is to help learners feel confident advocating for themselves and others when seeking and receiving mental health care.

This course is currently being updated with additional videos and expanded content. You will continue to have full access to the existing lessons while new material is being added.