Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Getting help at the NIH

Stress is a common and natural part of life, at work and in our personal lives. Potential sources of stress in research settings include adjusting to a new research group, learning new techniques, experiencing conflict, receiving harsh feedback, discussing career goals with your PI, preparing for a thesis committee meeting, completing job or graduate/professional school applications, and trying to balance work and personal life. It's important to recognize your own stress triggers and early signs of burnout and take proactive steps to address them. When we ignore signs of stress for too long, we put our health and well-being at risk.

The NIH OITE, your IC, and other NIH offices offers resources to help you proactively deal with stress and find a healthy approaches to your work and life.

If you feel that you need immediate support, and are unsure where to turn, please reach out to the OITE; we will listen, provide support, and help you decide next steps. You can reach us by email at OITE-private@nih.gov or phone 301-496-2427. You can also come to our offices in Building 2, and someone will assist you. Please note that OITE office hours are 8:30 – 6:00 PM ET, although we do our best to be responsive to emergencies outside of these hours.

If you are experience a health or mental health crisis after hours, please call 911 or go to your closest emergency room. You may also call or text the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

If you need urgent medical support, after hours, from the NIH Occupational Medical Service, please call 301-496-1211 and ask the operator to speak with the OMS physician on-call.