Citing NIMH Publications and Webpages
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General guidelines
The following are general guidelines for citing NIMH publications and webpages. 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, Director’s Messages and some videos (such as the Director’s Innovation Speaker Series) 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 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 22-MH-8090, the publication date is 2022).
- For webpages, if there is a date, it will be found in the “Last Reviewed” date at the bottom of the page.
Images in NIMH publications and on the NIMH website 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.
Director’s Message
Gordon, J. A. (2021, October 6). Director's Message: A Milestone in Mapping the Brain. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/messages/2021/a-milestone-in-mapping-the-brain.
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 January 11, 2023, 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. (2021, July). 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 December 13, 2021, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/about/strategic-planning-reports/NIMH-Strategic-Plan-for-Research-2021-Update.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control (NIH Publication No. 22-MH-8090). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/generalized_anxiety_disorder.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events (NIH Publication No. 22-MH-8066). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-disasters-and-other-traumatic-events/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-traumatic-events.pdf
Print publication
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Depression. (NIH Publication No. 21-MH-8079). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
Science news
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022, October 13). Researchers Develop Method to Study Brain Connectivity, Functionality [Press Release]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2022/researchers-develop-method-to-study-brain-connectivity-functionality
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, January 9). Brief Cognitive Training May Extend the Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine [Research Highlight]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/research-highlights/2023/brief-cognitive-training-may-extend-the-antidepressant-effects-of-ketamine
Video and audio
National Institute of Mental Health. (2019, December 9). Speaking of Science: Dr. Armin Raznahan — Genes, Brain Structure, and Neuropsychiatric Disorders [Podcast]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://irp.nih.gov/podcast/2019/12/dr-armin-raznahan-genes-brain-structure-and-neuropsychiatric-disorders
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021, October 26). Livestream Event on Seasonal Affective Disorder [Video]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/events/2021/livestream-event-on-seasonal-affective-disorder
Cunsolo, A. (2023, January 19). Director’s Innovation Speaker Series: Ecological Grief and Anxiety: A Healthy Response to Climate Change [Video]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/events/2023/directors-innovation-speaker-series-ecological-grief-and-anxiety-a-healthy-response-to-climate-change
Webpage
National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH-Sponsored Program Announcements. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/opportunities-announcements/listings/pas-sponsored
National Institute of Mental Health. Priority Research Areas. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/priority-research-areas
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022, September). Bipolar Disorder. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, January). Digital Shareables on Eating Disorders. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/get-involved/digital-shareables/shareable-resources-on-eating-disorders
Last Reviewed: February 2023