Resources
Maine
USA
- National Shattering Silence Coalition
- Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
- American Brain Foundation
- American Brain Coalition
- Treatment Advocacy Center Research
- Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- LEAP Institute
- Sandy Pruett Project Voices Heard
- Help for Veterans Avalon Action Alliance
- Colorado Mad Moms
- Vector-Borne Disease (Lyme)
- National Center on Elder Abuse
- Dr. Bobbi McCarthy AOT/ACT Paper
- Psychosis REACH
- SMI Caregiver Free Information
Guides (All of our Guides are Free to Download)
Family & Caregiver
- Understanding Anosognosia
- HIPAA, Power of Attorney, and Staying Involved in Your Loved One’s Care
- When a Loved One Refuses Treatment
- Surviving Caregiver Burnout
- Loved One Survival Guide
- Communicating During Psychosis
- Helping Without Enabling
- Crisis Planning Before an Emergency Happens
- Understanding Unrealistic Expectations Placed On Caregivers
- Creating a Home Safety Plan
- Supporting a Loved One After Hospitalization
- When Delusions Involve Family Members
- How to Talk to Children About a Parent’s Brain Disorder
- Marriage & Relationships Under the Stress of Brain Disorders
- Financial Protection for Families
- Guardianship vs. Supported Decision-Making
- Coping With Grief While Your Loved One Is Still Alive
- Dealing With Repeated Hospitalizations
- HIPAA; What Families Can and Cannot Do
- Handling Aggression Safely and Compassionately
- Helping a Loved One Rebuild Their Life
- Navigating Social Media and Online Exploitation Risks
- Self-Care for Parents and Siblings
Practical Everyday Living
- Helping Someone Maintain Housing
- Medication Conversations Without Power Struggles
- Building Daily Structure and Routine
- Sleep Problems and Brain Disorders
- Substance Use and Serious Brain Disorders
- Transportation and Driving Concerns
- Employment Challenges and Workplace Support
- Technology Safety for Vulnerable Individuals
- Nutrition and Brain Health
- Helping Someone Return to School or Work
Crisis & Emergency
- What to Say During a Mental Health Crisis Call
- Preparing for a Possible Involuntary Evaluation
- Working With Police During a Crisis
- Emergency Room Survival Guide for Families
- Preventing Suicide During Psychosis or Severe Mood Episodes
- Understanding Violent Behavior and Brain Disorders
- De-Escalation Techniques That Actually Help
- Preventing Wandering, Disappearance, or Exploitation
- What Families Should Document During Crisis
- Safety Planning for Children in the Home
Treatment & System Navigation
- Understanding Maine’s Progressive Treatment Program (PTP)
- Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Explained
- ACT Teams: What They Are and Why They Matter
- How to Advocate Inside the Mental Health System
- Understanding Psychiatric Medications
- Questions Families Should Ask Providers
- Insurance and Coverage Challenges
- Navigating Disability Benefits
- Understanding Hospital Discharge Planning
- Coordinating Care Between Providers
Community & Awareness
- Explaining No Fault Brain Disorders to Friends and Extended Family
- No Fault Brain Disorders Are Not a Choice
- Fighting Stigma in Small Communities
- Why Early Intervention Matters
- Comparing Brain Disorders to Other Medical Conditions
- Why Families Often Feel Ignored by the System
- The Link Between Homelessness and Untreated Brain Disorders
- Brain Disorders and the Criminal Justice System
- Why Compassion Alone Is Not Enough Without Treatment Access
- Understanding the Biological Basis of Brain Disorders
Specialized
- Brain Disorders and Veterans
- Brain Disorders in Teens and Young Adults
- Women and Serious No Fault Brain Disorders
- Aging Parents Caring for Adult Children
- Brain Injuries, Lesions, and Psychiatric Symptoms
- Autism and Serious Mental Illness
- Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders
- Rural Brain Health Challenges
- Faith Communities and Brain Disorders
- LGBTQ+ Individuals LIving With Serious Brain Disorders
Professional & Public Safety
- Law Enforcement Guide to No Fault Brain Disorders
- School Staff Guide to Psychiatric Crisis
- Employer Guide to Supporting Workers With No Fault Brain Disorders
- EMS & First Responder Communication Tips
- Hospital Staff Guide to Family Collaboration
- Court System Guide to Serious Brain Disorders
- Shelter Staff Guide to Serious Brain Disorders
- Peer Support: Strengths and Limitations
- Trauma-Informed Care for Psychosis
- Why Repeated Crisis Response Costs More Than Prevention
Hope & Recovery
- Self Acceptance
- Helpful Thoughts on Stabilization and Recovery
- Rebuilding Trust After Psychosis
- Helping Someone Find Purpose Again
- The Importance of Hope for Families
- Small Victories Matter
- Recovery Does Not Always Mean “Cure”
- Building Long-Term Stability
- Life After Crisis
- Acceptance Without Giving Up
- What Recovery Can Realistically Look Like
Advocacy & Reform
- How Families Can Advocate for Better Laws
- Understanding the IMD Exclusion
- Why Every County Needs ACT Teams
- The Cost of Untreated Brain Disorders
- AOT Success Stories Across the USA
- Why Uniform State Laws Matter
- Barriers Families Face Seeking Help
- Reforming Crisis Systems
- Why Waiting for “Dangerousness” Fails Families
- A National Strategy for Brain Disorder Care
Definitions:
Anosognosia
Anosognosia is a medical condition in which a person is unaware of their own illness or disability. This lack of awareness is not simply denial — it is caused by damage to the brain, often from conditions such as:
- Stroke (especially right-hemisphere strokes)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Schizophrenia