The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health is pleased to be a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Outreach Partner. We disseminate science-based behavioral health information and are eager to grow partnerships that advance the health of individuals and families throughout our Commonwealth.

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Children & Families
  • Supportive parenting may help adolescents avoid brain development issues that have been linked to living in poverty, suggests a study funded by NICHD and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

  • Maternal stress during pregnancy may influence fetal brain development in ways that increase the risk of depression by early adolescence, suggests a small NICHD-funded study.

  • A NICHD-funded study found adolescent drivers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a higher crash rate than adolescents who do not have the disorder.

  • A recording of SAMHSA’s national event on May 6 to launch its 2019 suicide prevention-focused activities for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is now available.
Older Adult Behavioral Health
  • This new publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides an overview of workforce issues to consider when addressing the needs of older adults living with serious mental illness.

  • In this blog post for National Older Adults Mental Health Awareness Day on May 20, SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services director Dr. Anita Everett discusses the prevalence and impact of mental disorders in older adults, and SAMHSA resources on prevention and treatment approaches for older adults with mental and substance use disorders.
Opioid Use Conditions
  • NIH director Dr. Francis Collins discusses findings from a new NIH-funded analysis that examined whether state laws to improve naloxone access lead to reductions in fatal overdoses involving opioids. 
Depression Research
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) director Dr. Joshua Gordon discusses research advances in the understanding and treatment of depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression, and future directions for research.
PTSD Research
  • The May 2019 issue of the VA’s PTSD Monthly Update highlights three steps individuals can take to help increase awareness of PTSD in June, which is PTSD Awareness Month.
Clinical Research
  • NIH’s All of Us Research Program has announced the beta release of its interactive Data Browser to provide a first look at the data that participants are sharing for health research.
  • The latest issue of MedicinePlus magazine features an interview with Dr. Stephanie Devaney, deputy director of the NIH All of Us Research Program.
  • In the latest installment of The Dish video series, NIH All of Us Research Program director Eric Dishman shares an update about the program as it reaches the one-year mark and previews what’s to come, including information on the size and diversity of the health database that All of Us is building for researchers to speed up medical breakthroughs.

  • This NIDA Science Update describes results from two NIDA-funded fMRI (brain imaging) studies that demonstrate in humans a relationship between inflammatory processes (related to the immune system) and brain function.

  • This Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) blog post describes efforts the agency has launched to improve the care of people with multiple chronic conditions, which affect nearly one in three American adults and account for 71 percent of all health care spending.

  • A recording of this webinar from the Department of Justice, which provided information from a meta-analysis of research focused on the range of mental health problems that are associated with sexual assault, is now available. 
Spanish Language Materials
  • NIH has launched a new, bilingual website for its MedlinePlus magazine, which offers articles and information in English and Spanish. Website visitors now can search for magazine content in English or Spanish by health topic or by quarterly print issue.
Behavioral Health Equity
  • In this blog post in observance of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity discusses the stigma associated with mental health problems in Asian and Pacific Islander communities and the work of the U.S. Public Health Service’s Asian Pacific American Officers Committee and the Cambodian Family organization, which have successfully engaged these communities to learn about mental health.
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
  • The SAMHSA TA Network is sponsoring a number of webinars in June, July, and August addressing various children's behavioral health topics.

  • June 28, 2019, 10am: Increased attention has been given to police officer exposure to traumatic events as well as their prolonged involvement in stressful situations, environments, and working conditions. High stress can have precipitous negative effects on an individual’s mental health—including the onset of mental illnesses such as PTSD, depression, and/or anxiety. 
  • At this Research for the Real World online seminar, the NIJ will bring together law enforcement practitioners and leading researchers in the field of stress to discuss the current research evidence and practical benefits of targeted stress management interventions and how they can promote officer mental wellness.

  • July 9, 2019, 2-3:30pm: This SAMHSA Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy training webinar is designed to assist community organizations in building long-term capacity to meet the needs of the people they support before, during, and after a disaster.
Calls for Input
  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is creating a new committee to identify areas for improved coordination related to substance use disorder research, services, supports, and prevention activities across all relevant federal agencies. HHS, in coordination with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is seeking members for the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee, which was authorized by the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. The committee will be composed of both federal and nonfederal members. Applications are due June 14, 2019.

  • NIMH has issued a RFI on incorporating development and environment into the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) matrix. NIMH is interested in input from stakeholders in the scientific research community and the general public on best practices for incorporating development and environment, which are crucial to understanding psychopathology, into RDoC-informed research. Responses are due by June 21, 2019.

  • AHRQ wants to know how people and organizations have used any of the more than 650 reports developed by the agency’s Evidence-based Practice Center Program. Individuals or organizations that have used an AHRQ evidence-based systematic review are encouraged to provide feedback to support future program planning. AHRQ is interested in feedback from clinical professional organizations, payers, health systems, research funders, and others. A RFI with specific questions posed by the agency is available. Responses are due by July 22, 2019 and should be sent to epc@ahrq.hhs.gov.
Clinical Trial Participation
  • The study is recruiting participants ages 11-17 who are depressed and have a pediatrician or medical provider. The study begins with an outpatient evaluation (clinical assessment, interviews, and questionnaires).
  • Outpatient study visits include a clinical assessment, research tasks, and brain imaging, up to age 25.
  • Eligible participants may receive treatment of evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy and, if indicated, standard medicines. Enrollment is from across the U.S. Transportation expenses to NIH in Bethesda, MD are reimbursed. There is no cost to participate and compensation is provided.
  • For more information, call 1-301-827-1350 [TTY: 1-866-411-1010] or email depressedkids@mail.nih.gov. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Protocol Number: 18-M-0037.

  • NIMH is conducting a study to evaluate the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of repeat doses of ketamine.
  • This 14- to 20-week inpatient study is enrolling eligible depressed adults, ages 18 to 65 from across the U.S., who are free of other serious medical conditions. 
  • NIMH will pay for travel to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate and compensation is provided.
  • For more information, call 1-877-MIND-NIH (1-877-646-3644) [TTY: 1-866-411-1010] or email moodresearch@mail.nih.gov. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Protocol #, 17-M-0060.
We look forward to continuing to work together for change!