National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health is the lead Federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders. Our mission is to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior. The burden is enormous. The World Health Organizations Global Burden of Disease study reported that mental disorders comprise four of the top five sources of premature death and disability in 15-44 year olds in the Western world. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, autism, and other mental disorders are serious, often life-threatening illnesses for which we need reliable diagnostic tests, new treatments, and effective strategies for prevention. Our public health mission mandates a focus on those with the most serious mental illness.