Mental Health Consequences of Violence and Trauma

The summary for the Mental Health Consequences of Violence and Trauma grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the National Institutes of Health, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Mental Health Consequences of Violence and Trauma: Through this Program Announcement (PA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks to encourage investigator-initiated research to enhance scientific understanding about the etiology of psychopathology related to violence and trauma, as well as studies to develop and test effective treatments, services, and prevention strategies in this area. The NIMH mission encompasses the conduct and support of biomedical and behavioral research, as well as the translation and testing of scientifically generated information into clinical applications, interventions, and services. In the last several years, various programs of the NIH and NIMH have organized and participated in scientific meetings concerning acute reactions to trauma and risk for psychopathology, disaster mental health, mass violence (terrorism, bioterrorism), as well as exposure to domestic and community violence. This PA reaffirms the NIMHs long-standing interest concerning mental health research on trauma and victimization and also reflects recent suggestions that have emerged from the above-mentioned scientific meetings.Emerging areas of particular interest to the NIMH concern acute reactions to trauma, risk for psychopathology, translation of basic behavioral and neuroscience findings on resiliency and risk for intervention development and testing, and strategies for effective service provision, particularly where non-specialty systems (i.e., primary care) may be required to provide mental health services. These areas incorporate research needs regarding interpersonal violence (e.g., victims/survivors of child abuse and neglect, violence against women, hate crimes); exposure to mass violence/major traumatic events (e.g., terrorism, major accidents, combat and war, refugee trauma and relocation, torture, natural and technological disaster); exposure to family, school, and community violence; violence in the media; and other types of trauma and victimization. Populations of concern include children, youth, adults, the elderly, men and women, and all racial and ethnic groups.A great deal has been learned and applied to improve the mental health of traumatically stressed persons. For instance, research on the course and expression of symptoms helped identify risk and protective factors, age-specific psychosocial and behavioral responses to traumatic stress, and new intervention strategies. Despite the growth of research on traumatic stress, predicting which traumatized individuals will go on to develop mental disorders and serious functional impairment remains a challenge. Other challenges include understanding how to maintain and enhance resilience; finding and refining effective treatments for all who suffer from often debilitating disorders; and achieving a better understanding of the most effective means of organizing, implementing, financing, and delivering mental health services, including quality and outcomes of care. The need for focused, systematic research in these areas provides the impetus for this PA.Although not participating in this program announcement, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) shares an interest in this area of research. For specific information on NICHD interests, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-096.html and http://www.nichd.nih.gov/crmc/cdb/p_cog.htm.