Social Drivers of Mental Illnesses in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Mechanisms and Pathways of Interventions for Youth (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MH 23 310

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is RFA-MH-23-310?

RFA-MH-23-310 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports research on how interventions targeting social drivers of mental illnesses influence mental health outcomes for young people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The main goal is to move beyond simply asking whether an intervention works and instead determine why and how it works. The announcement emphasizes identifying the specific mechanisms and pathways through which changing social conditions can reduce risk for mental illness and/or improve mental health outcomes and day-to-day functioning.

Who is the target population for the research?

The target population is children, adolescents, and young adults ages 5 through 24 who live in World Bank-designated LMIC settings.

What countries or settings are considered eligible for the research focus?

The research focus is on World Bank-designated low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. The opportunity is framed around LMIC contexts where youth face layered and interacting social realities.

What kinds of interventions does the RFA prioritize?

The RFA prioritizes interventions that target upstream social conditions (social drivers) linked to mental illness risk and mental health outcomes. Examples of social domains highlighted include safety, stability, social connectedness, school participation, family functioning, and economic conditions.

What mental health outcomes are of interest?

Outcomes of interest include changes in symptoms, resilience, functioning, and overall wellbeing for youth. The RFA also emphasizes day-to-day functioning as a meaningful endpoint.

Is the focus only on whether an intervention works?

No. A central requirement is to unpack the causal chain between the intervention and outcomes by identifying mechanisms, pathways, and the intermediate steps that explain how changes in social conditions translate into mental health and functioning changes.

What does it mean that the RFA emphasizes mechanisms and pathways?

It means studies should be designed to illuminate how an intervention that changes a social condition leads to mental health effects. The announcement calls for work that can test intermediate steps and explanatory factors, including mediators, moderators, and contextual influences.

What types of study designs does NIH expect for this opportunity?

Applicants are expected to use innovative research approaches capable of capturing real-world complexity in LMIC contexts and mapping the causal chain from intervention to outcomes, including intermediate variables and contextual factors that shape impact.

Does this funding opportunity require a clinical trial?

No. The announcement states that clinical trials are optional. Projects may include a clinical trial component if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.

What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism.

How much funding can be requested?

The listed award ceiling is $500,000, which indicates an upper bound on the amount that can be requested under the terms of the solicitation.

What is the assistance listing or CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity sits within NIH's health research mission and is associated with CFDA 93.242.

What type of grant is this categorized as?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area.

What are the key dates mentioned for this RFA?

The funding notice was created on November 22, 2022, and the original application due date shown is February 17, 2023. This indicates a specific, time-bound request for applications (RFA) rather than a permanently open program.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public housing/Indian housing authorities, academic institutions (public/state-controlled and private higher education), nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and tribal entities (including federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments).

Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The RFA explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) among the eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among the "other eligible applicants."

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly named among the "other eligible applicants."

Are minority-serving institutions specifically highlighted as eligible?

Yes. The RFA names several categories of minority-serving institutions as "other eligible applicants," including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.

Can federal agencies apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the "other eligible applicants."

Why does the RFA emphasize real-world complexity?

The announcement is designed around the idea that social drivers operate in layered and interacting ways, especially in LMIC contexts. Applicants are expected to use approaches that can reflect these realities and clarify how context shapes intervention impact.

What kinds of explanatory factors should studies consider?

Studies are expected to consider intermediate steps and explanatory factors in the causal chain, including mediators, moderators, and contextual factors that influence whether, how, and for whom an intervention produces mental health benefits.

What would a competitive proposal generally be expected to do?

Competitive proposals would be expected to go beyond simple outcome evaluation by mapping and testing pathways that link social-driver-focused interventions to mental health and functioning outcomes, using designs and measures that can capture real-life environments where social drivers operate and youth development unfolds.

Is this opportunity mainly about upstream social conditions rather than clinical treatment alone?

Yes. The opportunity is centered on interventions that address upstream social conditions (social drivers) and aims to clarify how changes in those conditions translate into mental health and functional outcomes for youth.