Citing NIMH Publications and Webpages
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General guidelines
The following are general guidelines for citing NIMH content. You may need to adapt the guidelines to match the reference style you are using.
- The author of all NIMH materials is “National Institute of Mental Health,” rather than an individual person unless otherwise specified. For example, the Director’s Messages have an individual person as the author.
- Include “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health” as the publisher in all references. If the author is a person, as with the Director’s Messages, also include “National Institute of Mental Health” at the end (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health).
- For print or digital publications, such as brochures, fact sheets, and infographics, provide the publication name and publication or identifier number (found on the back cover or last page).
- For webpages, including most of NIMH’s online resources, provide the page title, URL, and retrieval date, as necessary.
- Dates may include a year only; a month and year; or a day, month, and year.
- For publications, if the date is not shown on the work, it is found in the first two digits of the publication or identifier number (for instance, if the publication number is 25-MH-8090, the publication date is 2025).
- For webpages, if there is a date, it will be found in the “Last Reviewed” date at the bottom of the page.
Images that appear in NIMH content may not be copied or used for other purposes, even if cited. To learn more about citing or using information and images on NIMH materials, refer to NIMH’s reprint guidelines. You can also contact the NIMH Information Resource Center at 1-866-615-6464 or nimhinfo@nih.gov for more information.
Reference examples
There are many different reference styles. Use the style that best fits your needs. Here are some examples of information to include in a reference, depending on the type of material being cited.
Online publication
National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). I’m So Stressed Out! Infographic (NIMH Identifier No. OM 20-4319). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/so-stressed-out-infographic/so-stressed-out-infographic.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, May). National Institute of Mental Health Strategic Plan for Research (NIH Publication No. 20-MH-8096). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/about/strategic-planning-reports/NIMH_Strategic_Plan_for_Research_2023_Update.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). Bipolar Disorder (NIH Publication No. 25-MH-8088). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder.pdf
Print publication
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Depression. (NIH Publication No. 24-MH-8079). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
Science news
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024, October 12). Researchers Fully Map Neural Connections of the Fruit Fly Brain [Press Release]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-updates/2024/researchers-fully-map-neural-connections-of-the-fruit-fly-brain
National Institute of Mental Health. (2025, March 4). Study Illuminates the Genetic Architecture of Bipolar Disorder [Research Highlight]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-updates/2025/study-illuminates-the-genetic-architecture-of-bipolar-disorder
Video and audio
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024, September 11). Livestream Event on Suicide Prevention in Health Care Settings [Video]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/media/2024/livestream-event-suicide-prevention-in-health-care-settings
Sheftall, A. (2024, December 16). Director’s Innovation Speaker Series: Youth Suicidal Behaviors: Where Do We Go From Here [Video]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/media/2024/directors-innovation-speaker-series-youth-suicidal-behaviors-where-do-we-go-from-here
Webpage
National Institute of Mental Health. Priority Research Areas. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/priority-research-areas
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024, December). Bipolar Disorder. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder
Last Reviewed: March 2025