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RESEARCH WEEKLY: Federal Agency for Research into Mental Illness Ignores the Most
Impairing Conditions
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has a history of failing to prioritize
serious mental illness in its research. Unfortunately, their recently-released five-year
[[link removed]]
strategic plan [[link removed]]
draft [[link removed]]
signals their intention to continue to ignore those with the most impairing disorders.
Despite seeking public comment, the NIMH's plan, even by the standards of federal
reports, is almost unreadable. While the issues are complicated, the explanation
of why they are vital shouldn't be. However, it is not written in a way that is
easy to understand or make sense of. For example, Strategy 3.3.C on page 28 reads
"Enhancing the practical relevance of effectiveness research via deployment focused,
hybrid effectiveness-implementation studies."
Spearheaded by our founder, Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, the Treatment Advocacy Center
has put together a comprehensive [[link removed]]
analysis [[link removed]]
of the five-year strategic plan, highlighting how it would fail those with severe
mental illness. We identify sixteen concrete examples of research initiatives the
NIMH should be pursuing today, initiatives that could help people with serious mental
illness recover and live better lives.
Yesterday, the Treatment Advocacy Center submitted our public comment [[link removed]]
to the NIMH. However, we urge you to submit your own here [[link removed]].
Use our comments, but also share your story of how the decisions of NIMH affect
you and your loved ones. These stories are vital to help NIMH understand why their
proposed priorities are misplaced.
Here are some points to consider:

*
The report fails to reflect the urgency of our national mental health crisis: As
Dr. Torrey summarized, "Overall, I would say that this report is promising for
people who plan to be affected with a serious mental illness in 2050 or beyond,
but for anyone who is currently affected, the report offers no hope. I personally
find this unacceptable and inexcusable."

* Where are the people who are experiencing the consequences of our failed mental
health system? Except for one paragraph on the increasing national suicide rate,
there is no indication whatsoever that mental health services for individuals with
serious mental illnesses are an increasing public disaster. There is only passing
reference of homelessness, criminalization of mental illness, the fact that emergency
rooms are overrun with people with mental illness, or the burden of the failures
of the mental health system on law enforcement.

* Continued misplaced and unbalanced priorities: The strategic plan is strongly
weighted towards basic brain science, with a continued strong emphasis on genetic
research. It ignores the fact that the genetic research to date has been remarkably
unproductive and likely to continue to be so, as described in a paper [[link removed]]
by Dr. Torrey and Dr. Robert Yolken published in Psychiatry Research in August.
You can submit feedback online via the NIMH request for information page [[link removed]],
or mail your comments to:
NIMH Strategic Planning Team
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663

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Elizabeth Sinclair Hancq
Director of Research
Treatment Advocacy Center
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Note: There will be no Research Weekly blog next week due to the holiday. We will
release our last blog of the year, highlighting the research progress made in 2019,
on Monday, December 30th.
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Questions? Contact us at [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
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Research Weekly is a summary published as a public service of the Treatment Advocacy
Center and does not necessarily reflect the findings or positions of the organization
or its staff. Full access to research summarized may require a fee or paid subscription
to the publications.
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The Treatment Advocacy Center does not solicit or accept funds from pharmaceutical
companies.
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