National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

#TDIH: On June 7, 1999, First Lady Hillary Clinton, seen here with then NIMH director Steven E. Hyman, M.D., hosted the first White House Conference on Mental Health. NIMH helped organize the event, which brought together national leaders, scientists, and patients to establish mental health as a national priority. For 75 years, NIMH has transformed the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research—bringing hope to millions of people. As we commemorate our 75th Anniversary, we invite you to participate in this yearlong celebration. Stay informed about NIMH's 75th Anniversary by visiting: nimh.nih.gov/75years.

In a new neuroimaging study funded by NIMH, researchers used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to target regions deep in the brain to help reduce depression symptoms. https://go.nih.gov/8n7Uexy

As NIMH celebrates its yearlong 75th anniversary, NIMH Director Dr. Joshua Gordon reflects on what stands out about NIMH’s progress! “Looking back, I think some therapies that have come out of the NIMH-funded science have been particularly impactful. These treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy and all the different antidepressants and antipsychotics we have. Some people tend to think these treatments came about by accident or trial and error. We discovered the first antidepressant by accident, but every single one after that was discovered because we understood something about how the brain worked and could design drugs that targeted specific areas or chemicals in the brain. That knowledge has led to more targeted medicines, dramatically improving the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications and antidepressants.” Get more reflections and advice from Dr. Gordon during NIMH’s 75th anniversary at: https://go.nih.gov/dNFkUu0

NIMH wants to learn more about who uses its Strategic Plan for Research and whether the Plan is meeting your needs. Tell us about your experience! Feedback is due at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on July 24, 2024. https://go.nih.gov/V1QktJ1

Save the date: June 17 and June 18 from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET. We’re convening subject matter experts for a workshop about the impact on health from exposure to interpersonal biases. Join us for a dynamic conversation that will:   · Enhance understanding of links between bias exposure and adverse health conditions and disparities, · Assess the state of the science and identify research gaps and opportunities, · Explore strategies for the direction of future etiological, methodological, and intervention-based research.   Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wSgeF4 National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

As part of our yearlong 75th Anniversary celebration, NIMH is hosting a webinar on June 10 to explore key advances in genetics and genomics research. This webinar brings together distinguished researchers to shed light on the genetic basis of mental illness, the impact of genetic variation and developmental trajectories in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, and the future of translating genetic findings to patient care. Register today! https://go.nih.gov/yaxzKM3

This two-day virtual NIH workshop from June 10-11 will convene researchers, youth advocates, and federal officials to review the state of the science on developmental trajectories of gender identity and sexuality with a focus on research aimed at the promotion of mental health for sexual and gender minority youth. Session themes include epidemiological and population health studies of developmental trends, social determinants of health that drive mental health outcomes at multiple levels, and preventive and treatment interventions to ensure healthy futures for all youth. Register today! https://go.nih.gov/aHjshcL

During #PTSDAwarenessMonth, help NIMH raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by sharing information and materials based on the latest research. Share science. Share hope. https://go.nih.gov/9UpXayp #shareNIMH

NIMH just released the 2024 annual update to our Strategic Plan for Research to keep pace with evolving scientific approaches and research priorities! This iteration of the Strategic Plan, originally published in 2020, guides NIMH grantees, potential grant applicants, and staff in the design and implementation of future research. Most notably, the updated Strategic Plan emphasizes NIMH’s commitment to funding research that addresses the needs of individuals from underserved populations, including those with disabilities. NIMH also developed a companion Progress Report, highlighting significant accomplishments over the last year. Explore the Strategic Plan and NIMH’s progress! https://go.nih.gov/lmwSemt

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The NIH Speaking Up About Mental Health national essay contest announced 24 teenage finalists for gold, silver, bronze, and honorable mention prizes! The national contest challenged teens to think about #MentalHealth, and the winning essays addressed topics like stigma, trauma, resilience, equity, authenticity, and more. Finalists also had specific ideas on how to improve well-being, such as broader access to leisure sports, reducing time spent on social media, and leveraging social media influencers. Read the winning essays at nimhd.nih.gov/EssayContest. The contest was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. More than 370 essays were submitted by youth across 33 states. #SpeakingUpMH #StopTheStigma