NIMH Strategic Plan open for comment

The NIMH is soliciting comment on it’s draft Strategic Plan (actual pdf of the draft here) that will “serve as a guide to the Institute for advancing mental health science over the next 3-5 years.”

A few things from the draft:

Our success cannot be measured solely by our traditional “outputs”: the numbers of grants, papers, or discoveries supported. In addition, NIMH must measure success by “outcomes”: how well the research we support provides the evidence base for mental health care providers to preempt illness for those at risk, enhance recovery for those affected, and serve diverse and previously under-served populations.

Translational, translational, translational!

progress has been made and it has been accelerating over the past decade. This plan is our commitment to continue the accelerated pace of scientific progress by generating over the next 5 years the best mental health research that will have the greatest public health impact

And how are you to do this with a shrinking budget?

Third, all advances rest on our ability to support and train future generations of mental health scientists. … It is equally clear that training must inspire creativity, innovation, and a thirst to make a difference in the lives of those with mental disorders.

A decent career path would be quite inspirational.

Balancing these needs and finding improved ways to mentor and train the most talented young researchers are fundamental to the future of mental health research. For this reason, the National Advisory Mental Health Committee (NAMHC) is developing a separate document that will outline the Institute’s future research training priorities.

Still not getting it are they? The problem is not in training, the problem is in transition to independent career.