subpart 16—national institute of mental health

§285p. Purpose of Institute

(a) In general

The general purpose of the National Institute of Mental Health (hereafter in this subpart referred to as the "Institute") is the conduct and support of biomedical and behavioral research, health services research, research training, and health information dissemination with respect to the cause, diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of mental illness.

(b) Research program

The research program established under this subpart shall include support for biomedical and behavioral neuroscience and shall be designed to further the treatment and prevention of mental illness, the promotion of mental health, and the study of the psychological, social and legal factors that influence behavior.

(c) Collaboration

The Director of the Institute shall collaborate with the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in focusing the services research activities of the Institute and in disseminating the results of such research to health professionals and the general public.

(d) Information with respect to suicide

(1) In general

The Director of the Institute shall—

(A) develop and publish information with respect to the causes of suicide and the means of preventing suicide; and

(B) make such information generally available to the public and to health professionals.

(2) Youth suicide

Information described in paragraph (1) shall especially relate to suicide among individuals under 24 years of age.

(e) Associate Director for Special Populations

(1) In general

The Director of the Institute shall designate an Associate Director for Special Populations.

(2) Duties

The Associate Director for Special Populations shall—

(A) develop and coordinate research policies and programs to assure increased emphasis on the mental health needs of women and minority populations;

(B) support programs of basic and applied social and behavioral research on the mental health problems of women and minority populations;

(C) study the effects of discrimination on institutions and individuals, including majority institutions and individuals;

(D) support and develop research designed to eliminate institutional discrimination; and

(E) provide increased emphasis on the concerns of women and minority populations in training programs, service delivery programs, and research endeavors of the Institute.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §464R, as added Pub. L. 102–321, title I, §124(a), July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 364; amended Pub. L. 102–352, §2(a)(5), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 938; Pub. L. 109–482, title I, §103(b)(36), Jan. 15, 2007, 120 Stat. 3688.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–482 struck out subsec. (f) which authorized appropriations and provided that at least 15% of the appropriated amounts were to carry out health services research relating to mental health.

1992—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 102–352 struck out "other than section 285o–4 of this title" after "this subpart".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–482 applicable only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years, see section 109 of Pub. L. 109–482, set out as a note under section 281 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–352 effective immediately upon effectuation of amendment made by Pub. L. 102–321, see section 3(1) of Pub. L. 102–352, set out as a note under section 285n of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 236 of this title.

Study of Barriers to Insurance Coverage of Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Section 704 of Pub. L. 102–321 directed Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and in consultation with Administrator of Health Care Financing Administration, to conduct a study of the barriers to insurance coverage for the treatment of mental illness and substance abuse and to submit a report to Congress on the results of such study not later than Oct. 1, 1993.

§285p–1. Associate Director for Prevention

(a) In general

There shall be in the Institute an Associate Director for Prevention who shall be responsible for the full-time coordination and promotion of the programs in the Institute concerning the prevention of mental disorder. The Associate Director shall be appointed by the Director of the Institute from individuals who because of their professional training or expertise are experts in mental disorder and the prevention of such.

(b) Report

The Associate Director for Prevention shall prepare for inclusion in the biennial report made under section 284b ¹ of this title a description of the prevention activities of the Institute, including a description of the staff and resources allocated to those activities.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §464S, as added Pub. L. 102–321, title I, §124(b), July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 365.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 284b of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed by Pub. L. 109–482, title I, §104(b)(1)(C), Jan. 15, 2007, 120 Stat. 3693.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 236 of this title.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§285p–2. Office of Rural Mental Health Research

(a) In general

There is established within the Institute an office to be known as the Office of Rural Mental Health Research (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Office"). The Office shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Director of such Institute from among individuals experienced or knowledgeable in the provision of mental health services in rural areas. The Secretary shall carry out the authorities established in this section acting through the Director of the Office.

(b) Coordination of activities

The Director of the Office, in consultation with the Director of the Institute and with the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy, shall—

(1) coordinate the research activities of the Department of Health and Human Services as such activities relate to the mental health of residents of rural areas; and

(2) coordinate the activities of the Office with similar activities of public and nonprofit private entities.

(c) Research, demonstrations, evaluations, and dissemination

The Director of the Office may, with respect to the mental health of adults and children residing in rural areas—

(1) conduct research on conditions that are unique to the residents of rural areas, or more serious or prevalent in such residents;

(2) conduct research on improving the delivery of services in such areas; and

(3) disseminate information to appropriate public and nonprofit private entities.

(d) Authority regarding grants and contracts

The Director of the Office may carry out the authorities established in subsection (c) directly and through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts with public or nonprofit private entities.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §464T, as added Pub. L. 102–321, title I, §124(b), July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 365; amended Pub. L. 109–482, title I, §104(b)(1)(L), Jan. 15, 2007, 120 Stat. 3693.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–482 struck out heading and text of subsec. (e). Text read as follows: "Not later than February 1, 1993, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment of the Committee on Energy and Commerce (of the House of Representatives), and to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources (of the Senate), a report describing the activities of the Office during the preceding fiscal year, including a summary of the activities of demonstration projects and a summary of evaluations of the projects."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–482 applicable only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years, see section 109 of Pub. L. 109–482, set out as a note under section 281 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 236 of this title.

§285p–3. Office on AIDS

The Director of the Institute shall establish within the Institute an Office on AIDS. The Office shall be responsible for the coordination of research and determining the direction of the Institute with respect to AIDS research related to—

(1) primary prevention of the spread of HIV, including transmission via sexual behavior;

(2) mental health services research; and

(3) other matters determined appropriate by the Director.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §464U, as added Pub. L. 102–321, title I, §124(b), July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 366.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 236 of this title.