The CSWE Public Policy Initiative (PPI) is sharing a request for information (RFI) from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The PPI is able to provide high-level context about this request.
The purpose of this RFI is to seek input on how the NIMH might learn about and address research gaps in knowledge to address mental health disparities in rural people and communities. Additionally, this RFI seeks information from researchers and providers as well as affected patients, families, community members, and other concerned stakeholders. The NIMH Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity and the Office of Rural Mental Health Research will use the feedback received through this RFI to inform their portfolio of research (including possible future funding opportunities) on mental health issues facing rural residents and communities.
Research topics available for comment include:
- Research needs for improving access to and use of effective treatment and prevention services in rural communities;
- Research needs for addressing mental health within the context of other health problems as well as social determinants of health within the rural context; and
- Measurement, methodology, approach, and analytic strategies that would boost progress in rurally oriented research.
More details about these topics and NIMH's interests in rural mental health can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-21-190.html. The deadline to submit comments is April 15, 2021, and responses should be submitted electronically at https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=60008a6b534d000034005162.
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Andrew Herrin
Legislative Research Assistant
Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
Washington, DC DC
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