Women’s Mental Health Research Program

Overview

Mental illnesses contribute substantially to the global burden of disability, particularly for women. Depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of disability for women worldwide.

Women often experience mental illnesses differently than men—certain symptoms may be more common in women than men, or the course of an illness can be affected by the sex of the individual. Some women may also struggle with mental illness at times of hormone change, such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopause-related depression.

NIMH and the Women’s Mental Health Team recognize the importance of supporting basic, translational, clinical, and services research in areas of importance to women’s mental health.

The purpose of the Women’s Mental Health Team is to:

• Advance NIMH-sponsored discovery science and research training in the areas of psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience to better understand and treat mental disorders 
• Promote the emotional well-being of women throughout the lifespan, with a particular focus on sex and gender-related research that explores the pivotal life stages for brain health, such as birth, puberty, pregnancy, reproductive years, menopause, and aging

Priority Areas

The Women’s Mental Health Program:

• Coordinates with the NIMH scientific divisions to promote research on women’s mental health and to encourage the examination of sex and gender differences in NIMH-funded research
• Works closely with the NIH Office for Research on Women’s Health and other NIH Institutes and Centers to facilitate joint funding opportunities
• Serves as a point of contact for topics related to women’s mental health
• Serves as a liaison to other federal agencies and external stakeholders on research issues relevant to women’s mental health

For More Information

Researchers

• Office of Research on Women’s Mental Health
• NIMH High-Priority Areas for Research on Women's Mental Health During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period
• Notice of Information on High Priority Research Areas for Sex and Gender Influences on the Adolescent Brain and Mental Health of Girls and Young Women (Ages 12-24)

Funding opportunities, initiatives, and efforts specific to women’s mental health research

• Research on the Health of Women of Understudied, Underrepresented and Underreported (U3) Populations
• Sex and Gender Differences Research
• Specialized Center of Excellence in Research  

General Information

• NIMH Women’s Mental Health Page
• NIMH Publications on Women’s Mental Health Topics

Program Chief

Tamara Lewis Johnson, M.P.H., MBA
Women’s Mental Health Research Program
Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity
6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892-9659
301-594-7963, tamara.lewisjohnson@nih.gov