Request for Information (RFI): Gaps and Opportunities in Global Mental Health Research
Notice Number:
NOT-MH-23-175

Key Dates

Release Date:

February 2, 2023

Response Date:
May 05, 2023

Related Announcements

None

Issued by

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Purpose

Background

Mental illnesses are a global concern, presenting shared opportunities to advance science across international boundaries. To meet this challenge, NIMH aims to expand our knowledge of global mental health, elucidate new targets for better preventive and treatment interventions for mental illnesses, and develop novel approaches for addressing mental health needs worldwide. The Center for Global Mental Health Research works in collaboration with the NIMH Global Mental Health Team to coordinate NIMH’s efforts to generate knowledge that will improve the lives of people living with or placed at risk for mental illnesses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This focus on expanding science in LMICs is driven by the need to inform the improvement of culturally appropriate and equitable access, availability, affordability, and quality of preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative evidence-based mental health services. As a part of this effort, NIMH seeks input about existing efforts, general suggestions, and future considerations for advancing equitable, impactful, and meaningful global mental health research.

Information Requested

To identify research gaps and opportunities that will advance our understanding and role in supporting basic, translational, and services-oriented global mental health research, NIMH seeks input from a broad array of interested parties, including (but not limited to) research organizations, multilateral organizations, community organizations, academic institutions, professional societies, businesses, other government agencies, health services organizations, those employed by or receiving funding from NIH, people with lived experience and the public.

In your response, please share any organizational definitions, specific examples, suggested strategies, resources, and metrics.

We welcome your responses to any or all of, but not limited to, the questions below:

  1. Priority areas in global mental health research
  2. Meaning of capacity building in research to you and/or your organization/institution
  3. Resources, programs, or opportunities to help individuals in LMICs and/or high-income countries (HICs) to enter and maintain a career in global mental health research
  4. NIMH and promotion of global mental health research partnerships
  5. Principles and strategies needed to support the exchange of knowledge derived from research findings across countries and research groups.

How to Submit a Response

All responses must be submitted electronically by May 5, 2023, using this submission web form or in the form of an email to NIMHGlobalMentalHealthRFI@nih.gov, using the subject GMH RFI Response - NOT-MH-23-175.

This request is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government. The NIH does not intend to make any awards based on responses to this RFI or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information.

The NIH will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion and will not provide comments to any responder's submission. However, responses to the RFI may be reflected in future funding opportunity announcements. The information provided will be analyzed and may be aggregated in presentations and reports. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

We look forward to your input and hope that you will share this RFI document with your colleagues or other interested parties.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Leonardo Cubillos, M.D., M.P.H.
National Institute of Mental Health/Center for Global Mental Health Research
Email: NIMHGlobalMentalHealthRFI@nih.gov

Collene Lawhorn, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health/Global Mental Health Team
Email: NIMHGlobalMentalHealthRFI@nih.gov