National Institute of Mental Health Outreach Program

National Outreach Partnership Program Description

The Outreach Partnership Program is a nationwide initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Office of Constituency Relations and Public Liaison (OCRPL). The Program works to increase the public’s access to science-based mental health information through partnerships with national and state nonprofit organizations. The Program has a particular emphasis on reaching historically underserved populations. The Program also strives to enhance opportunities for the public to benefit from participation in research. These partnerships provide NIMH with the opportunity to engage community organizations in dialogue to better understand the needs, questions, and concerns of those intended to benefit from the research the Institute supports.

Objectives

The Outreach Partnership Program is vital to NIMH’s efforts to deliver science-based information to communities across the country. Specifically, the Program is designed to:

  • Foster more widespread understanding about mental disorders, the brain, and behavior, thereby helping to reduce misperceptions and negative attitudes towards mental illness;
  • Increase awareness of the role of basic, translational, and clinical research in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of mental illnesses; and
  • Increase awareness about the opportunities to benefit from participation in mental health research.

Outreach Partners

There are 55 Outreach Partner organizations representing all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Outreach Partners disseminate NIMH research findings and educational materials to the public throughout their states and local communities, including families and individuals affected by mental illness, healthcare professionals, underserved populations, and other constituencies such as schools, social service agencies, and faith-based organizations. Outreach Partners also conduct targeted outreach activities to address mental disorders among children and adolescents and other populations identified to be at-risk, and mental health disparities that occur because of race, ethnicity, age (e.g., older adults), education, income, disability status, geographic location, or risk status related to sex and gender. In addition, Outreach Partners promote volunteer participation in NIMH and NIH clinical trials and often collaborate with researchers to advance the research process. Learn more about what Outreach Partners are doing to address mental health disparities and increase awareness about mental disorders during childhood and adolescence.

Outreach Partners are selected through a competitive process and serve three-year terms. Benefits provided to these organizations include an annual stipend, sponsored participation in an annual meeting, the biweekly electronic Update newsletter featuring the latest Federal news and resources related to mental health, and access to NIMH scientific and educational publications for mass dissemination. Partners are able to network among themselves and with Federal, national, and state organizations through the annual meetings and a dedicated electronic mailing list

Links to NIMH resources:

For more mental health information visit: www.mhatexas.org

Nationally, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to be connected to the nearest crisis center or go to the Texas Department of State Health Services online to find the nearest crisis center in your area or to the Texas Council of Community Mental Health Centers website to find the crisis number for your area, area, http://www.txcouncil.com/center_directory.aspx.