Dame Quintin Bryce, Australian Mental Health Awards
Australian Mental Health: A nationwide search is underway to identify people who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion or prevention and treatment of mental illness.
Former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce launched the inaugural mental health prize on Wednesday at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) as reported by Antoinette Lattouf.
Dame Quentin said the awards would acknowledge the important and tireless work done across a range industries, including researchers, advocates, clinicians and carers.
"This award will make a valuable contribution to our community's knowledge of mental health and also its champions — what they do, what they give," she said.
UNSW Professor Henry Brodaty said the prestigious prize would help reduce the stigma of mental illness and raise the profile of the significant work Australians were doing.
Australian Mental Health
According to the Black Dog Institute, one in five Australians will experience mental illness in any given year and one in three in their lifetime.
Suicide is the leading cause of death of 15-44 year old males, and each year 2,000 Australians take their life, according to the Black Dog Institute.
Media personality and Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group chair Ita Buttrose said mental health was a "national emergency".
"The statistics are alarming, however we should also be incredibly proud of the exciting and innovative mental health programs and campaigns currently underway in Australia," she said.
Nominations for the prizes are open now and the winner will be unveiled at an award ceremony on November 28. To read more click here.
Australian Mental Health will be discussed at The 17th International Mental Health Conference; Guiding the Change.
The Conference will be held at the brand new Sea World Resort Conference Centre on the Gold Coast from the 11 -12 August 2016. To register your attendance CLICK HERE.
This conference will bring together leading clinical practitioners, academics, service providers and mental health experts to deliberate and discuss Mental Health issues confronting Australia and New Zealand.
The conference program will be designed to challenge, inspire, demonstrate and encourage participants while facilitating discussion. CLICK HERE to view the Program.
