It is estimated one in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any one year.
Despite increasing awareness about mental health, there is still lots to be done in understanding mental illness, managing it and reducing stigma amongst the community.
With your kind donations, you’re providing much-needed mental health support and research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.
Mental Health Support and Research
This project is trialling wearable technology that monitors sleep, physical activity and mental wellbeing as a lifesaving new tool to help detect and prevent declines in mental health.
Researcher
Dr Michael Kyron from the University of Western Australia is trialling the AI tech to better identify those at risk and provide them with timely support. Â
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the referral system for rural patients is the focus of a new project helping to reduce delays and avoid unnecessary treatments.Â
Using a dedicated app, patients will be able to log changes to their needs and symptoms in real-time. The app will also have the ability to raise red flags if symptoms deteriorate and provide the patient with immediate advice. Â
Establishing a Youth Single Entry Point (YSEP) within the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network to improve the referral triage process for young adults aged 18 to 25 years old who present with mental health problems, to determine the best service match for each patient, at first contact.
Researcher
Associate Professor Oliver Schubert will evaluate whether the YSEP approach is effective for young people with depression.
A six-month pilot is being funded for an experienced mental health paramedic to work within the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) Emergency Operations Centre to provide timely, high-quality mental health assessments to Triple-0 callers.
The paramedic will help identify what kind of care or intervention is necessary, and potentially help divert mental health patients away from emergency departments and to more appropriate care.
There is widespread evidence to show gut health and mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia are interconnected, however this link is often overlooked in clinical treatment.
Researcher
Dr Paul Joyce aims to engineer new mental health medications that improve diversity in a patient’s gut microbiome, in order to better regulate the gut-brain pathways linked with psychiatric disorders.
About 90% of men with depression experience insomnia, increasing their risk of future depression and relapse and reducing treatment response. However, insomnia is often neglected in depression management.
Researcher
Dr Nicole Lovato aims to trial a new model of care for men suffering from depression and insomnia.
Providing a variety of research-backed, peer-led workshops and therapies to help service men and women cope with traumatic experiences, improve relationships and transition to civilian life through THRF Group charity Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA).
MESHA gains insights into the unique mental health challenges of military members and emergency services workers living with Post-Traumatic Stress and helps them live fulfilling, meaningful lives.
Promoting education and awareness of mental health and wellbeing through local sporting clubs and associations by supporting an innovative ‘Sport in Mental Health Charter’ for South Australia.
This grant has been facilitated through the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation.
Investigating the wellbeing and mental health of the South Australian community pre and post COVID-19 to inform future public health support.
Researcher
Professor Robert Adams and team are analysing the wellbeing of a cohort of 1300 people aged 37 to 98 from Adelaide’s north western suburbs as part of the study.
Supporting people who are battling mental illness or at risk of poor mental health by providing one-on-one or group art therapy sessions; pet, drama or music therapies; and more to aid their treatment and recovery.
Art Therapist
Karin Foxwell provides art services for military and emergency services mental health and their families.
Psychiatrist Dr Jon Lane answers your mental health questions
