I use Diigo to bookmark psychology websites I find as I surf the web. I have been using it for at least 18-months now and have found it to be an invaluable tool. Admittedly, I am a pretty low-key user. I use only the basic bookmarking function, and have the toolbar installed on my work and home computer so I can access my bookmarks in either setting. To my credit, I was brave enough to set up a PsychSplash Psychology Group on Diigo where I have been posting links to psychology sites for the last 12 months. You can access my public list here (with RSS feed here) and the PsychSplash Psychology group here (with RSS feed here).

Just the other day, they launched version 3 which has really expanded the collaborative, community and social potential of the site. Therefore I recommend spending a little time familiarizing yourself with the site and Diigo have done a good job of covering their features in the demo video and “learn more” sections. For those who would like it in a quick and dirty format however, you can think of the site along 4 lines (taken from their “learn more section”)

1)  As a personal research tool - bookmark web content you like, accessible from any computer with web access, organize bookmarks according to tags and lists, share your bookmarks with others through your blog or website.

2) As a collaborative research platform - organize team-based research by organizing groups where multiple members share bookmarks on a specific topic.

3) As a guide to social content - find the most popular content on certain topics, find similar sites to the one you are currently browsing, subscribe to users to who find great sites.

4) As a knowledge sharing community - connect with people with similar interests through bookmarks & tags.

If you spend a bit of time online and use the web for research or browse extensively, Diigo is worth a look in terms of managing what you find. Oh yeah, its free.

Rethink is one of the leading mental health membership charities in the UK providing practical support (support groups), services, campaigning, policy development, research, training and information provision. Their website is an excellent overview of the services they provide and how members of the public can get involved. The site now has a blogs section, the goal of which is to showcase “online diaries, views and experiences from a range of Rethink blog writers”.  Currently in its infancy and only featuring the one blog, this part of the site will feature writers who are at the frontline of caring for those with mental health conditions (i.e., siblings, carers, family & friends).

Mindsite, the brainchild of David Eraker (founder and former CEO of Redfin) has done a soft launch and invited all those who registered their email with the site to start building the core functionality. Visitors to the site can complete a 10 minute “pre-evaluation survey” which will indicate which of 20 mental health conditions you currently meet or have met the criteria in the past. Mindsite are then asking that you share your experiences of dealing with one (or more) or these mental health conditions so that future visitors to the site can “read original articles, personal anecdotes, and treatment recommendations posted by other people who share your diagnoses”. People who visit the site and complete the survey are currently being directed towards content from the DSM-IV and wikipedia articles to help them learn more about their possible diagnoses. As the community grows, and Mindsite incorporate their ranking & recommendation system (in the pipeline), users will be directed to increasingly more selective and appropriate resources.

Mindsite are also putting out the call to health professionals and writers, “Mindsite is currently seeking a group of mental health professionals and writers to contribute articles, treatment reviews, and other original content. By contributing, you’ll receive exposure and feedback on your work from the Mindsite community, and you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of a revolutionary concept that will empower individuals to take control of their mental health”.