NIMH Outreach Partnership Program

The Outreach Partnership Program is a nationwide outreach partnership between the NIMH, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and various national, state, and community organizations. Working together, the partners: help close the gap between mental health research and clinical practice; inform the public about mental health disorders, alcoholism, and drug abuse; reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness; and increase the public’s awareness of the importance of basic and clinical research in advancing knowledge of the brain and behavior.

The Outreach Partnership Program is a central element in the broader effort by NIMH to deliver science-based information on mental health to the public, health professionals, voluntary organizations, and other key stakeholders. The objectives are to improve the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses, and alleviate the effects of co-occurring alcoholism and other substance abuse among all Americans—including underserved populations such as racial or ethnic minority groups, children, older adults and people living in rural areas.

The NIMH Outreach Partnership Program consists of three (3) key components:

• Outreach Partners are made up of 51 organizations (PDF file, 11 pages), one competitively selected partner in every state and the District of Columbia;
• Partnership Network consists of National Organizations and local and community organizations;
• Expert Panel includes leading mental health authorities that review Outreach Partner applications and advise NIMH on major aspects of the Outreach Partnership Program.
• Annual Meetings
• Contact the NIMH Outreach Partnership Program