The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) designated MAMH as its Massachusetts partner for the Institute's outreach partnership program (formerly known as the constituency outreach and education program.) Under this program NIMH designates a partner in each state and US Territory to work towards providing science based information and education on mental illness to the media and general public. The Outhreach Partnership Program is a nationwide educational outreach initiative of NIMH, with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Program enlists national and state organizations in partnerships to help bridge the gap between research and clinical practice by disseminating the latest scientific findings; informing the public about mental disorders, alcoholism, and drug addiction; and reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with these illnesses. The Program strives to increase public awareness about the importance of basic and clinical research in improving treatments for an ultimately curing and preventing, mental illnesses and addiction disorders through advancing knowledge about the brain and behavior. The program also provides a vehicle for NIMH to engage community groups across the U.S. in developing a national research agenda grounded in public health need.

There are 51 Outreach Partner organizations in the Program; one competitively selected partner in every state in the U.S. and the District of Columbia. Each Outreach Partner operates independently of the NIMH and is chosen through a rigorous competition where applications are reviewed by a panel of experts and NIMH staff. As part of their agreement with NIMH, each Outreach Partner conducts statewide mental health outreach and education for the public, health professionals, schools, minorities, traditionally underserved populations, and/or other groups to help fulfill the Program's mission. In return for their efforts, Outreach Partners receive additional benefits: monetary compensation in the form of a small stipend; travel reimbursement to the annual meeting; access to bulk quantities of NIMH publications at no cost; and various networking opportunities including a listserv and biweekly Update with news and resources.

The complete list of current Outreach Partners can be found on the NIMH Web site at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/outreach/partners.

Clinical Trials. A clinical trial (also known as clinical studies or clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treamtments that work in people ans ways to improve health. For more information, go to: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Provide a link on your organization's Web site to the NIMH Clinical Trials Web Page (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/studies/index.cfm) as well as the research-study recruitment web pages of our Federal Partners, NIDA (http://www.nida.nih.gov/CTN/research.html) and SAMHSA, and NIH (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)

NIMH/MAMH Constituency Outreach and Education Program
If you or your organization would like any of the following, or other information about mental illness, contact Tim O'Leary at telephone 617-742-7452, Fax 617-742-1187, or email timfleary@aol.com.

Facts About Anxiety Disorder
Facts About Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Facts About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Facts About Panic Disorder
Facts About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Facts About Social Phobia Depression and Suicide
Facts for Older Adults
Schizophrenia
Depression
What to do if a Friend is Depressed
Anxiety Disorders
Let's Talk About Depression
A Real Illness: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A Real Illness: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A Real Illness: Generalized Anxiety Disorders
A Real Illness: Social Phobia
A Real Illness: Panic Disorder
Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder: An Update from the NIMH
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism: Decade of the Brain
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
New Anxiety Disorders Bookmark
Depresion: Lo Que Usted Necesita Saber
Datos Utiles Sobre Enfermedades Depresivas
La Enfermedad de Alzheimer
Pro Salud Insert (Depression)

National Institute of Mental Health
Outreach Partnership Program

National Institute of Mental Health
Outreach Partnership Program

National Institute of Mental Health
Outreach Partnership ProgramNational Institute of Mental Health
Outreach Partnership Program

Update

October 15, 2008

I. Science and Service News Updates
II. Resources: Publications, Toolkits, Other Resources
III. Calendar of Events
IV. Funding Information
V. Programmatic Funding Opportunities
VI. Research Funding Opportunities (PAs and RFAs)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Mental Health
Office of Constituency Relations and Public Liaison

Science and Service News Updates

NIH Scientists Identify Link Between Brain Systems Implicated in Schizophrenia
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have deciphered the complex relationship between three distinct brain circuits implicated in schizophrenia. The researchers determined that one brain circuit acts through an intermediary brain circuit. The intermediary circuit acts like a volume control knob, turning up the electrical activity of still another brain circuit, or turning it down. The finding suggests that schizophrenia could result from a malfunction anywhere in the link between these three brain circuits. The study was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2008/nichd-06.htm

NIMH: Pilot Study Will Test New Treatment to Reduce Self-Harm in Borderline Personality Disorder
NIMH recently funded Kim Gratz, Ph.D., University of Mississippi Medical Center, and colleagues to continue to test a new group therapy to help women with borderline personality disorder reduce self-harm behaviors and to improve functioning.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/pilot-study-will-test-new-treatment-to-reduce-self-harm-in-borderline-personality-disorder.shtml

NIMH: Viral Genetic Underpinnings of HIV-associated Dementia Explored
A new study identifies differences between genetic variants of HIV that are associated with HIV-associated dementia (HAD). This study was the first to use mouse models to identify the role of HIV genetic variants in the development of HAD. The study demonstrates that viral genetic differences can affect the severity of HAD, and provides proof of differences between genetic variants in HIV.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/viral-genetic-underpinnings-of-hiv-associated-dementia-explored.shtml

NIMH: Emotion-Regulating Circuit Weakened in Borderline Personality Disorder—Grey Matter Changes Linked to Runaway Fear Hub
Differences in the working tissue of the brain, called grey matter, have been linked to impaired functioning of an emotion-regulating circuit in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). People with BPD had excess grey matter in a fear hub deep in the brain, which over-activated when they viewed scary faces. By contrast, the hub's regulator near the front of the brain was deficient in grey matter and underactive, effectively taking the brakes off a runaway fear response, suggest researchers supported in part by NIMH.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/emotion-regulating-circuit-weakened-in-borderline-personality-disorder.shtml

SAMHSA Funding Announcements
Almost $27 Million to States for Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Programs
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the award of 18 grants totaling almost $27 million over three years to support state suicide prevention efforts. The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act provides authorization and funding for grants combating youth suicide. Over the past few months, SAMHSA has announced awards for 30 programs, 12 of which fund suicide prevention efforts from tribes/tribal organizations. These tribes/tribal organizations will receive over $16 million in grants over the next three years.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0810062052.aspx

20.8 Million in Grants to Meet Substance Abuse Treatment Needs in Communities
SAMHSA announced the award of 23 grants totaling $20.8 million over three years to address gaps in substance abuse treatment and recovery support services in communities with serious, emerging drug problems.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0810095521.aspx

$12 Million in Grants for Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery with Priority to Veterans
SAMHSA announced the award of six grants totaling $12 million over five years to support local and statewide expansion of jail diversion programs for people with post traumatic stress and other trauma-related disorders. A priority for this program is to provide needed services to veterans returning from Iraq/Afghanistan.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0810090800.aspx

Over $146 Million in Grants for Child Mental Health Services
SAMHSA announced the award of 18 cooperative agreements totaling at least $146 million over six years to provide comprehensive community mental health services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. These grants will be used to implement a systems of care approach to services, based on the recognition that the needs of children with serious mental health issues can best be met within their home, school, and community, and that families and youth should be the driving force in the transformation of their own care.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0810072644.aspx

More Than $17.4 Million to Help Expand Adult Drug Courts
SAMHSA announced the award of 20 new grants for $17.4 million over the next three years to expand the treatment capability of drug courts – special dockets designed to deal with the treatment needs of people who find themselves in the criminal justice system largely because of underlying substance abuse problems. The grants will be used to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment services in “problem solving” courts, which use the treatment drug court model in order to provide alcohol and drug treatment, recovery support services supporting substance abuse treatment, screening, assessment, case management, and program coordination to adult defendants/offenders.
Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0810075304.aspx

HRSA Awards Nearly $1 Million to Identify and Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a cooperative agreement worth $956,622 to Children’s Research Triangle in Chicago to educate pregnant women about the harm that can come to their babies if they drink and to identify and support children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
Press Release: http://newsroom.hrsa.gov/releases/2008/fasdprevention.htm

Resources: Publications, Toolkits, Other Resources

New on the NIMH Website
2008 NIH Director’s Pioneer and New Innovator Awards Include Research That Promises to Improve Understanding of Mental Health and Brain Disorders
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/updates/2008/2008-nih-directors-pioneer-and-new-innovator-awards-include-research-that-promises-to-improve-understanding-of-mental-health-a.shtml

NIH Launches New Web Site for Parents on Medical Research Studies for Children
This new Web site, Children and Clinical Studies, offers parents and health care providers an insider's guide to children's medical research. The Web site combines information about how clinical studies in youth are conducted with award-winning video of children, parents, and healthcare providers discussing the rewards and challenges of participating in research.
http://www.ChildrenAndClinicalStudies.nhlbi.nih.gov

NIH News in Health: Genetic Quirks Linked to Schizophrenia
Scientists have been searching for the genetic roots of schizophrenia for decades. If a few common genetic glitches, or mutations, were linked to the disorder it could open new strategies for treatment and diagnosis. But new research suggests that schizophrenia is a lot more complicated than many scientists had hoped.
http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2008/October/capsules.htm#cap01

NCRR: New Strategic Plan to Energize Clinical and Translational Research
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) recently released a new strategic plan for 2009–2013. The plan reflects extensive discussions and advice from a broad spectrum of individuals, including biomedical scientists, high-level administrators in research institutions, members of professional organizations and advocacy groups, and NIH senior program staff. NCRR supports unique and essential resources that help NIH-funded researchers transform basic discoveries into improved human health.
http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/strategic_plan

DOJ: Reintegrating Police Officers Deployed in Combat Zones
The Department of Justice report, Combat Deployment and the Returning Police Officer, examines the psychological effects of combat deployment, methods that may lessen the severity of combat stress, and strategies to help police officers returning to work, their families, and communities. This publication highlights four police agencies that have taken measures to assist returning officers and offers recommendations for further study.
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/ResourceDetail.aspx?RID=471

SAMHSA: Self-Disclosure and Its Impact on Individuals Who Receive Mental Health Services
Many people find disclosing their mental illnesses or other illnesses or personal situations gratifying, beneficial to their own recoveries, and often helpful to others. It appears that the more open one can be and the more people disclose, the more possible it is to overcome discrimination and stigma in the greater society. This monograph from SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services examines current literature related to self-disclosure and provides the findings from a series of key informant interviews to examine the factors that promote or hinder self-disclosure. Books, articles, and Web sites were analyzed in order to glean key findings and implications regarding the disclosure of mental illness in various arenas.
http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/SMA08-4337/SelfDisclosure_50p.pdf

ED: Developing Safe Schools Partnerships—Spotlight on Mental and Juvenile Justice
The Department of Education’s National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention has released an addition to its series on Safe Schools Partnership Spotlights. This publication identifies who is involved in juvenile justice (JJ) and mental health (MH) collaboration in schools; what the JJ and MH problems are affecting youth; what the challenges to MH/JJ partnerships are; and steps JJ and MH can take to work together in the context of a safe schools collaboration.
http://www.promoteprevent.org/Publications/partnership_spotlights/index.htm

CDC: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Self-Rated Health Status Among Adults With and Without Disabilities
Minorities with disabilities are disproportionately affected within racial and ethnic groups, so efforts to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities must incorporate the needs of adults with disabilities. A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study highlights findings on the health of people with disabilities among racial and ethnic groups. This study found that among adults with a disability, Black, Hispanic and Native Americans report fair or poor health at disproportionately higher rates compared with White and Asian Americans. Overall, adults with a disability were less likely to have excellent or very good health, and more likely to report being in fair or poor health, when compared with their counterparts without disability.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5739a1.htm

DoD: Navigating the Maze—Special Needs Parent Toolkit
This new Department of Defense toolkit has comprehensive information and tools that are geared towards helping military families with special needs children navigate the maze of medical and special education services, community support and benefits and entitlements.
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_1?section_id=20.40.500.570.0.0.0.0.0&content_id=218947

MMWR: QuickStats: Percentage of Persons Aged >12 Years with Depression, by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Status -- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2005 – 2006
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5739a10.htm

Calendar of Events

Health Observance: Drug-Free Work Week
October 20-26, 2008
Drug-Free Work Week is a public awareness campaign that highlights the importance of being drug free to workplace safety and encourages workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help. Drug-Free Work Week is implemented by the Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace program in collaboration with a number of National Planning Partners, focused on alcohol and drug abuse prevention and/or workplace safety and health.
http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/DFWW-Introduction.asp

Teleconference: Evaluating Programs to Improve Social Acceptance of People with Mental Health Issues
October 21, 2008, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET
SAMHSA’s Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health is sponsoring this training to (1) Demonstrate how to evaluate programs, and provide opportunities for linking with individuals who have conducted evaluations of similar efforts;
(2) Explain the types of things to be considered when developing, planning, and conducting evaluation activities; (3) Explain how you may work with evaluators for little or no cost; and
(4) Provide information on collaborating with various universities for help with evaluation design issues that will help generate better results. Registration for this teleconference will close at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Friday, October 17, 2008.
http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/teleconferences/archive/training/teleconference10212008.aspx

22nd Annual National Meeting on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs and Violence Prevention in Higher Education
November 16-19, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota
The U.S. Department of Education will convene its 22nd Annual National Meeting on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention in Higher Education and the National Forum for Senior Administrators. This is the national conference for examining issues around alcohol and other drug abuse and violence prevention on college campuses and in their surrounding communities.
http:www.higheredcenter.org/natl/2008/

Supporting Children Living with Grief and Trauma: A Multidisciplinary Approach
December 10-11, 2008, Los Angeles, California
This Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center training will focus on the needs of children who experience grief and trauma as a result of homicide and how victim service providers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement can work together to best serve these children. Topics include: (1) The signs of grief and trauma in children affected by a homicidal death and the unique challenges surrounding this experience: (2) Appropriate intervention strategies with children experiencing grief and trauma in order to make referrals; and (3) Strategies to enhance multidisciplinary responses to the special needs of children who experience grief and trauma.
http://www.sei2003.com/ovcttac2008/LA-SupportingChildren.htm

NIH Summit: The Science of Eliminating Health Disparities
December 16-18, 2008, National Harbor, Maryland
Join the NIH Institutes, Centers, Offices, and their many partners engaged in research on minority health and health disparities to: (1) highlight the research progress of the NIH on health issues among racial/ethnic minority and medically underserved populations; (2) increase awareness and understanding of disparities in health; (3) showcase best-practice models in research, capacity-building, outreach, and integrated strategies to eliminate health disparities;
(4) identify strengths and gaps in health disparities research; (5) network and dialogue with the nation’s leading experts on minority health and health disparities.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/announcements/2008/nih-summit-the-science-of-eliminating-health-disparities.shtml

Funding Information

New NIH Policy to Fund Meritorious Science Earlier
The NIH released a new policy that will enhance success rates of new and resubmitted applications by decreasing the number of allowed grant application resubmissions from two to one. This policy is a part of a continuing series of changes to the NIH peer review system following an in depth review and a year long self-assessment that concluded in June 2008. This new policy will help ensure earlier funding of high-quality applications and improve efficiencies in the peer review system.
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2008/od-08.htm

Announcing Initial Implementation Timeline for Enhancing Peer Review
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-118.html

Encouraging Early Transition to Research Independence: Modifying the NIH New Investigator Policy to Identify Early Stage Investigators
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-121.html

New NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-003.html

NIH Announces a New Business Process for Reporting an Identified Financial Conflict of Interest for Grants and/or Cooperative Agreements beginning October 10, 2008
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-001.html

Reminder Concerning Grantee Compliance with Public Access Policy and Related NIH Monitoring Activities
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-119.html

Programmatic Funding Opportunities

Army: Suicide Prevention and Counseling Research
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=LvDHnf63s0LGdprtL2VtbNV5Xb3hVQh9TkLf887FnhJDhSTbtMhl!900142800?oppId=42977&flag2006=false&mode=VIEW

SAMHSA Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program
http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2009/sm_09_002.aspx

Research Funding Opportunities
PAs and RFAs to share with scientific advisors. Information about NIH funding at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

Selected NIH Program Announcements (PAs)
[Full listing of NIH PAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/index.html]

Neurodevelopment and Neuroendocrine Signaling in Adolescence: Relevance to Mental Health
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-008.html (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-009.html (R21)

Health Services Research on the Prevention and Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-263.html (R01)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-264.html (R21)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-265.html (R03)

Drug Abuse Epidemiology and Services Research in Cooperation with the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Consortium
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-09-001.html

Selected NIH Request for Applications (RFAs)
[Full listing of NIH RFAs at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/index.html]

Replication and Fine-Mapping Studies for the Genes Environment and Health Initiative (GEI)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-09-003.html

Patient-Reported Outcomes Management Information System™ (PROMIS) Network Center
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-022.html

Patient-Reported Outcomes Management Information System™ (PROMIS) Research Sites
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-023.html

Patient-Reported Outcomes Management Information System™ (PROMIS) Technology Center
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-024.html

Patient-Reported Outcomes Management Information System™ (PROMIS) Statistical Center
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-025.html

Studies of the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Human Microbiome Research
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-08-030.html

MAMH can provide you or your organization, free of charge (other than postage for large orders) informational booklets, fact sheets and reports on a wide range of topics.