Facts About NIMH

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal government's principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NIMH Mission

The NIMH mission is to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior. This public health mandate demands that we harness powerful scientific tools to achieve better understanding, treatment, and eventually, prevention of these disabling conditions that affect millions of Americans.

To fulfill its mission, the Institute:

• conducts research on mental disorders and the underlying basic science of brain and behavior;
• supports research on these topics at universities and hospitals around the United States;
• collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on the causes, occurrence, and treatment of mental illnesses;
• supports the training of more than 1,000 scientists to carry out basic and clinical research; and
• communicates information to scientists, the public, the news media, and primary care and mental health professionals about mental illnesses, the brain, behavior, mental health, and opportunities and advances in research in these areas.

NIMH Budget

The fiscal year 2003 NIMH budget is approximately $1.3 billion.

Extramural and Intramural Research

NIMH funds research by scientists across the country as well as in NIMH studies in the internal research program. Through its extramural program, NIMH supports more than 2,000 research grants and contracts at universities and other institutions across the country and overseas. Investigators propose projects themselves through grant applications and must apply for renewals at intervals in order to receive continued funding.

Approximately 500 scientists work in the NIMH intramural research program. Intramural scientists range from molecular biologists working in laboratories to clinical researchers working with patients at the NIH Clinical Center. Although guided by a rigorous peer review system, intramural scientists are accorded unique flexibility in rapidly following up research leads and unexpected opportunities. Also, because it involves basic science as well as clinical trials, the program is structured to facilitate interdisciplinary studies.

For More Information About NIMH

NIMH Office of Communications
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Phone: 301-443-4513 or 1-866-615-NIMH (6464), toll-free
TTY: 301-443-8431; FAX: 301-443-4279
E-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov
Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov

NIH Publication No. OM 03-4235
July 2003