meetara-lab/vectorstore-mental_health huggingface dataset:
widespread; NIMH-supported research has played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the brain, developing groundbreaking treatments and therapies, and improving the quality and availability of mental health care.

Numerous NIMH-funded advances achieved over the last 75 years made it challenging to decide what to highlight as we celebrate this milestone anniversary. As such, we aim to broadly present our history and a sampling of basic, translational, and clinical research—from research aimed at understanding how the brain impacts behavior to translational efforts to uncover novel treatment targets to clinical studies testing innovative interventions in real-world settings. There are many impactful stories of discovery driven by dedicated scientists here at NIMH and across the country, and we will continue to share them beyond this anniversary year.
We owe a great deal of thanks to the broader scientific, advocacy, legislative, and professional communities and the public for their instrumental support. I also want to personally thank the many devoted NIMH employees, past and present, and our collaborators at other NIH institutes, centers, and offices for their enthusiastic commitment to NIMH’s mission. Finally, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this celebration by sharing their time, expertise, and experiences. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the director of a federal agency with such an inspirational and exciting mission.

I invite everyone to join us as we reflect on the successes and challenges of the past 75 years and look forward to the advances to come.

Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. Director, National Institute of Mental Health 75 Years of Progress and Landmark Events T he National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) was established in 1949,
Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. Director, National Institute of Mental Health 75 Years of Progress and Landmark Events T he National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) was established in 1949, 

spurred by U.S. Public Health Service efforts predating World War II and reports of widespread mental illness among service members. NIMH’s original mission had three main components: to train mental health 

professionals; to foster the spread of community-based mental health services; and to promote clinical, behavioral, and biological mental health research. The institute has seen many changes over the past 75 years, including shifts in organizational structure and administrative control and rapid developments in science and technology. Throughout this time, NIMH has maintained an unwavering commitment to guiding the nation as the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
This booklet provides an overview of NIMH’s 75-year history, charting a timeline of key events and major research programs and public health initiatives. The timeline includes a selection of pivotal discoveries made by NIMH researchers and grantees, many of whom have received Nobel Prizes, Lasker Awards, and other accolades for their groundbreaking scientific achievements. The timeline also tracks NIMH’s evolving research priorities and efforts to balance basic research with translational work to advance treatments for mental disorders and address mental health disparities. For a more comprehensive view, read the “Learn More About NIMH History” section at the back of this booklet and visit www.nimh.nih.gov/75years.

1 On July 3, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, which called for establishing a National Institute of Mental Health.
1 On July 3, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, which called for establishing a National Institute of Mental Health.

President Harry S. Truman. Credit Frank Gatteri, United States Army. Courtesy of Harry S. Truman Library & Museum.

1946

There is also a special need for research on mental diseases and abnormalities. We have done pitifully little about mental 

“

illnesses. Accurate statistics are lacking, but there is no doubt that there are at least two million persons in the United States who are mentally ill and that as many as 10 million will probably need hospitalization for mental illness for some period in the course of their lifetime. A great many of these persons would be helped by proper care.

President Harry S. Truman Special Message to Congress Recommending a Comprehensive Health Program

”
President Harry S. Truman Special Message to Congress Recommending a Comprehensive Health Program

”

On August 15, U.S. Surgeon General Thomas Parran, Jr., M.D., and several nationally known psychiatrists attended the first meeting of the National Advisory Mental Health Council. The group was tasked with advising NIMH on its policies and activities.

On July 1, the U.S. Public Health Service Division of Mental Hygiene awarded the first mental health research grant, “Basic Nature of the Learning Process,” to Winthrop N. Kellogg, Ph.D., of Indiana University.

On April 1, NIMH was formally established under the direction of psychiatrist and public health advocate Robert H. Felix, M.D., as one of the first institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Robert H. Felix, M.D., NIMH director from 1949 to 1964. Courtesy of National Library of Medicine.

1947

1949

2 1951

1952

1955

1956
Robert H. Felix, M.D., NIMH director from 1949 to 1964. Courtesy of National Library of Medicine.

1947

1949

2 1951

1952

1955

1956

In June, the first scientific director of NIMH, Seymour Kety, M.D., Ph.D., began building a joint basic intramural research program for NIMH and the newly created National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (NINDB). This research program evolved into the NIMH Intramural Research Program, the internal research division of NIMH. As of 2023, the NIMH Intramural Research Program comprised more than 650 staff and more than 40 research groups conducting basic, clinical, and translational research to advance understanding of the diagnosis, causes, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders.

On December 20, psychiatrist Robert A. Cohen, M.D., created a joint NIMH– NINDB clinical research program in time for the opening of the NIH Clinical Center in July 1953.
On December 20, psychiatrist Robert A. Cohen, M.D., created a joint NIMH– NINDB clinical research program in time for the opening of the NIH Clinical Center in July 1953.

On July 28, the Mental Health Study Act of 1955 (Public Law [P.L.] 84-182) called for “an objective, thorough, and nationwide analysis and reevaluation of the human and economic problems of mental illness.”

On August 2, Congress passed the Health Amendments Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-911). Title V of the legislation allowed NIMH to award “special project grants” about mental health. In expanding NIMH’s existing mandate, the act enabled NIMH to be more involved in community-based mental health efforts and programs.
On October 16, NIMH created the Psychopharmacology Service Center to coordinate the large-scale testing of new compounds. The congressionally funded effort, led by Jonathan O. Cole, M.D., spurred the discovery of the blockbuster drugs chlorpromazine and meprobamate to treat mental disorders. The center later evolved into the Early Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit, a collaborative program capable of conducting large nationwide clinical trials. This program, later renamed the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit, held an annual meeting that became a critical meeting in this domain, bringing together NIH researchers, academic investigators, industry scientists, U.S. and international regulators, and other professionals working in various aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Output from the program influenced the evolution of treatment research and the development of new treatments and treatment strategies. 

3 Training Mental Health Professionals
3 Training Mental Health Professionals

In 1941, there were only 3,000 psychiatrists in the United States, nowhere near enough to provide care on the scale Dr. Felix envisioned. In 1948, NIMH began awarding grants to academic research and medical school programs, and through the next decade, the bulk of NIMH funding went toward these training programs. The grants were heavily weighted toward psychiatry—Dr. Felix even devised a funding formula: 40% went to psychiatry, and 20% each went to psychology, social work, and nursing. Due largely to NIMH efforts, by 1960, the number of psychiatrists in America exceeded 10,000. The NIMH mission later refocused on supporting research and the training of researchers; the institute no longer directly supports the training of mental health professionals.

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

3,000

1941

>10,000

1960

NIMH Efforts Greatly Increased the Number of U.S. Psychiatrists After WWII
10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

3,000

1941

>10,000

1960

NIMH Efforts Greatly Increased the Number of U.S. Psychiatrists After WWII

The report, Action for Mental Health, assessed mental health conditions and resources throughout the United States “to arrive at a national program that would approach adequacy in meeting the individual needs of the mentally ill people of America.” The report commanded the attention of President John F. Kennedy, who established a cabinet-level interagency committee to examine the recommendations and determine an appropriate federal response.

1961

4 1963
1961

4 1963

On February 5, President Kennedy submitted a special message to Congress—the first presidential message to the legislature on mental health issues. Energized by the president’s focus, Congress passed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 (P.L. 88-164) on October 31, beginning a new era in federal support for mental health services. NIMH assumed responsibility for monitoring the nation’s community mental health center programs.

President John F. Kennedy signed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act on October 31, 1963. Credit: Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, Massachusetts.

“
“

Most of the major diseases of the body are beginning to give ground in man’s increasing struggle to find their cause and cure. But the public understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disabilities have not made comparable progress since the earliest days of modern history…This situation has been tolerated far too long. It has troubled our national conscience—but only as a problem unpleasant to mention, easy to postpone, and despairing of solution.

President John F. Kennedy Special Message to Congress on Mental Illness and Mental Retardation

”

1965
President John F. Kennedy Special Message to Congress on Mental Illness and Mental Retardation

”

1965

A provision in the Social Security Amendments of 1965 (P.L. 89-97) provided funds and a framework for a new Joint Commission on the Mental Health of Children to recommend national action for child mental health. The Community Mental Health Centers Act Amendments of 1965 (P.L. 89-105) also passed this year, which authorized grants to help pay the salaries of professional and technical personnel in federally funded community mental health centers.
5 In response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s pledge to apply scientific research to social challenges, NIMH refocused its efforts on fighting specific mental health problems. The institute established centers for research, training, and services covering topics such as schizophrenia, substance use, suicide prevention, crime, and child and family mental health. The National Center for Prevention and Control of Alcoholism was also established due to the emerging public recognition of alcoholism as a disease.

On January 1, NIMH was separated from NIH by executive order and made an independent division within the U.S. Public Health Service. However, the NIMH Intramural Research Program, which conducted studies in the NIH Clinical Center and other NIH facilities, remained at NIH under an agreement for joint administration between NIH and NIMH.

1966

1967

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
1966

1967

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

In the 1960s, Aaron Beck, M.D., and Albert Ellis, Ph.D., conducted NIMH- supported research that led to the development of cognitive therapy, now known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT began to gain widespread adoption as a form of psychotherapy in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, studies demonstrated the effectiveness of CBT for treating various mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and phobias.

Since then, CBT has become one of the most widely used forms of psychotherapy, with numerous research studies supporting its effectiveness. It is often used in combination with other treatments, such as medication, and has been adapted for use in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and community clinics.
On September 29, 2006, Dr. Beck received the prestigious Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for the development of CBT, which transformed the understanding and treatment of many mental disorders.

6 1967

On August 13, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Secretary John W. Gardner, Ph.D., transferred administrative control of St. Elizabeths Hospital—the federal government’s only civilian psychiatric hospital—to NIMH. Research was an important part of the work of St. Elizabeths through its Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, which made significant contributions to neurological and clinical research.

St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., was home to NIMH’s pathbreaking Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, which was founded in 1958 by Joel Elkes, M.D. (pictured front row, second from left). NIMH continued to conduct research on the hospital campus until 1999. Credit: Joel Elkes. Courtesy of Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum.

1968
1968

On April 1, NIMH became a component of the Health Services and Mental Health Administration within the U.S. Public Health Service.

7 Prominent Black psychiatrists James P. Comer, M.D., M.P.H. (right), and J. Alfred Cannon, M.D. (second from right), worked with NIMH to create the Center for Minority Group Mental Health Programs in 1970. Courtesy of Center for the History of Medicine, Harvard University.

Impact of the Civil Rights Movement

After the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a group of Black psychiatrists became determined to meet the challenge of institutional racism head- on. They considered racism a type of mental illness and argued that Black Americans were underrepresented in and underserved by NIMH.
This group of Black psychiatrists—led by Chester M. Pierce, M.D., at Harvard University and James P. Comer, M.D., M.P.H., at Yale University— began a series of contentious negotiations with NIMH leadership and other influential White psychiatrists. This culminated in a confrontation between the newly organized Black Psychiatrists of America and White attendees at the May 1969 American Psychiatric Association convention. The Black Psychiatrists of America demanded a center dedicated to Black mental health at NIMH, prioritization of research and training programs for Black psychiatrists, and creation of new mental health programs for Black Americans.
Dr. Comer, UCLA psychiatrist J. Alfred Cannon, M.D., M.P.H., and NIMH Director Bertram S. Brown, M.D., developed a framework for the proposed tenth NIMH center. The Center for Minority Group Mental Health Programs was established in the fall of 1970 as NIMH’s first official effort to increase the representation of people from minority groups among extramural awardees and intramural positions. By 1971, the center had launched a minority fellowship program and begun awarding research and training grants.

8 1970

On April 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lithium as a treatment for mania, a feature of bipolar disorder. This treatment, informed by NIMH- supported research, led to sharp drops in inpatient days and suicide rates among people with bipolar disorder and reduced economic costs associated with the illness. The FDA later approved lithium for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.
On October 15, NIMH intramural researcher Julius Axelrod, Ph.D., and two other researchers received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research on the chemistry of nerve transmission. Dr. Axelrod’s work established that norepinephrine was inactivated through “reuptake” by the same cells that secreted it. The discovery led to the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the first blockbuster neuropharmacological medication since the 1950s. SSRIs are a class of medications commonly used as antidepressants. They work by increasing brain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, and sleep.

Julius Axelrod, Ph.D. Courtesy of National Library of Medicine.

9 On December 31, the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 91-616) established the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) within NIMH.
On March 21, Congress passed the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act (P.L. 92-255), which called for the future establishment of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) within NIMH.

NIMH went through a series of organizational moves. The institute temporarily rejoined NIH on July 2 with the abolishment of the Health Services and Mental Health Administration. The Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration—composed of NIAAA, NIDA, and NIMH—was established as the successor organization.

On May 14, the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration was officially established when President Richard Nixon signed the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-282).
The Community Mental Health Centers Amendments of 1975 outlined requirements for national standards, quality assurance programs, and data collection, which set the stage for performance criteria in community mental health centers.

On February 17, President Jimmy Carter established the President’s Commission on Mental Health by executive order. President Carter charged the commission with reviewing the nation’s mental health needs and making recommendations to the president on how best to meet these needs. First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as the honorary chair of the commission.
On April 27, the President’s Commission on Mental Health submitted its final report to President Carter. The report contained more than 100 recommendations for expanding existing programs and creating new ones to make the community mental health center program more flexible and to extend mental health services. The report’s appendices included three additional volumes with recommendations from more than 20 task panels focused on a wide range of mental health and substance use issues.

1970

1972

1973

1974

1975

1977

1978

10 1980
1970

1972

1973

1974

1975

1977

1978

10 1980

In October, NIMH released preliminary results from its Epidemiological Catchment Area Survey. Most notably, the survey found that nearly one in five Americans suffered from a diagnosable psychiatric disorder within any six-month period. The effort, underway since 1977, was conducted by research teams at five universities and looked at rates of mental disorders in five cities. The extensive survey allowed for the accurate categorization of specific disorders in a general population for the first time.

On October 7, President Carter signed the Mental Health Systems Act (P.L. 96- 398). The act created a complex federal, state, and local partnership focused on preventing mental illnesses. It expanded the Community Mental Health Center program and extended help to “chronically mentally ill individuals, children and youth, elderly individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, women, poor persons, and persons in rural areas.”

1981
1981

NIMH participated in developing the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, Toward a National Plan for the Chronically Mentally Ill, a sweeping effort to improve services and fine-tune various federal entitlement programs for those with severe, persistent mental disorders.

On August 13, President Ronald Reagan signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-35). This act repealed the Mental Health Systems Act and consolidated the treatment and rehabilitation service programs of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration into a single block grant that enabled each state to administer its allocated funds. With the repeal of most of the community mental health legislation and the establishment of block grants, the federal role shifted to providing technical assistance to increase the capacity of state and local mental health service professionals.
On November 18, NIMH intramural researcher Louis Sokoloff, M.D., Ph.D., received the Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, considered the “American Nobel Prize” of clinical medical research. Previous researchers had found evidence for changing glucose levels in the brain but could not link those changes to specific brain regions. Dr. Sokoloff developed a noninvasive technique to track the movement of a radioactive analog of glucose in the brain, which allowed researchers to measure glucose metabolism and map brain function. This technique paved the way for the development of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the living brain.
11 In research supported by NIMH, zoologist Fernando Nottebohm, Ph.D., discovered the formation of new neurons in the brains of adult songbirds. This evidence of neurogenesis (the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain) opened an exciting and clinically promising new line of research in brain science. It was 15 years, however, before investigators found evidence for continued neurogenesis in the brains of adult humans.
Researchers in the NIMH Intramural Research Program published one of the earliest studies of seasonal affective disorder. The seminal study, which described patients who experienced depressive symptoms that emerged during the fall and winter and went away during the spring and summer, provided the first working definition of the disorder. Norman Rosenthal, M.D., and Thomas Wehr, M.D., both in the NIMH Clinical Psychobiology Branch, led the research. Frederick Goodwin, M.D., NIMH scientific director and chief of intramural research, was also a contributor. Study results also showed that light therapy had a robust antidepressant effect, effectively reducing depressive symptoms in people with seasonal affective disorder.

1983

1984

On October 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services transferred administrative control of St. Elizabeths Hospital from NIMH to the city of Washington, D.C. NIMH retained research facilities on the hospital grounds.

1987
1987

The FDA approved SSRIs for treating depression. Building on the pioneering work of Dr. Axelrod and others at NIMH, researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of SSRIs as antidepressant medications. In the decades following FDA approval, SSRIs became one of the most widely prescribed antidepressants in the world due in part to their relatively mild side effects compared to other medications.

12 1989

On July 25, in response to reports by the advisory councils of NIMH and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, President George H.W. Bush signed a declaration designating the 1990s the “Decade of the Brain.”