National Institute of Mental Health-NIMH

The world’s premier mental-health research organization, NIMH seeks to improve
the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of mental disorders that affect millions
of adults, children and adolescents. It also serves as an informational and
educational clearinghouse, communicating information about the brain, mental
health and related research to the public, scientists, news media and healthcare
providers. NIMH is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American
government’s principal biomedical and behavioral-research agency which in turn
falls under the jurisdiction of the US Department of Health and Human
Services.

NIMH supports both internal and external research on mental
disorders, neuroscience and behavior. It funds external research through grants
or contracts awarded both nationally and inter- nationally to scientists from
universities or research facilities. Scientists in the field initiate most of
these studies, examining issues such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and
eating disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS and the delivery, financing, quality
and costs of mental-health services. NIMH also identifies gaps in research and
solicits applications from scientists to conduct needed studies. NIMH’s own
large internal research program supports basic and clinical studies in areas
that include genetics, psycho-immunology and brain imaging. Its internal program
trains scientists from around the world, helping to meet research shortages in
basic brain research, clinical studies on mental and behavioral disorders, as
well as the organizational and financial aspects of mentalhealth services. NIMH
also actively works to increase hiring of women and minority researchers and
clinicians.
Source: http://www.englisharticles.info/2011/06/24/national-institute-of-mental-health/