Media Release

Australians Urged to Nominate Mental Health Champions Before Entries Close

 

With just weeks left to nominate, organisers of the 2025 Australian Mental Health Prize are calling on Australians to help shine a light on the people making a real difference in mental health across the country.

 

Now in its 10th year, the national Prize honours Australians who have made outstanding contributions to mental health across four categories: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Lived Experience, Professional, and Community Hero.

 

“This milestone year is a chance to celebrate the quiet achievers — the people improving mental health outcomes every day, often without recognition,” said Adjunct Professor Sophie Scott, Chair of the Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group.

“We’re encouraging people across Australia to help us find and honour them.”

 

The Prize recognises leadership across many areas — from peer work, clinical care, research and education to advocacy, cultural healing, and grassroots community action.

 

“Mental health leadership looks different in every community. That’s why it’s so important to receive nominations from across the country — including places and people that are often overlooked,” Professor Scott said.

 

Nominations are open until July 23, 2025.

 

To nominate someone or learn more, visit: www.australianmentalhealthprize.org.au

 

Media Assets available here. More available on request.

 

Reflections from past winners and Advisory Group members are available here.

 

Media enquiries:

 

Fleur Townley | Lanham Media

0405 278 758 | [email protected]

 

Spokespeople available for interview:

 

Advisory Committee:

• Sophie Scott OAM – Chair; award-winning journalist and author
• UNSW Professor Kimberlie Dean – Forensic psychiatrist; member, Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group
• UNSW Professor Valsamma Eapen – Child psychiatrist; member, Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group
• UNSW Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO – Professor of Ageing and Mental Health; member, Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group

 

Past Winners on request including:

• Dr Louise Byrne (QLD), 2024 Prize recipient – Director of Lived Experience Training (.org); Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University
• Professor Michael Berk (VIC), 2024 Prize recipient – Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Deakin University; Director, IMPACT Institute
• Professor Juli Coffin (WA), 2024 Prize recipient – Aboriginal researcher and youth mental health leader
• Megan Krakouer (WA), 2023 Prize recipient – Director, National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project
• Gary Thorpe OAM (QLD), 2022 Prize recipient – General Manager, Silver Memories
• Professor Gordon Parker (NSW), 2020 Prize recipient – Founder, Black Dog Institute; Scientia Professor of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney

 

Background:

 

The Australian Mental Health Prize was established in 2016 by UNSW Sydney to recognise Australians who have made outstanding contributions to promoting mental health or preventing/treating mental illness.

 

Mental illnesses are common and highly disabling. In any given year, one in five adult Australians and one in seven children aged 4 to 17 will experience some form of mental illness. One in three Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Mental illness significantly impacts a person's ability to work, earn a living, and maintain close relationships.

 

Recent statistics highlight the scale and impact of mental health challenges in Australia:

• Youth Mental Health: A quarter of Australians aged 16-24 are experiencing a mental illness at any given time. Many people first experience symptoms during adolescence.
• Suicide Rates: More than 3,000 Australians die by suicide each year, with men being at greatest risk but least likely to seek help.
• Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety: Around one million Australian adults experience depression, and over two million suffer from anxiety each year. Depression ranks as the third highest burden of all diseases in Australia.
• Impact on Vulnerable Communities: Indigenous Australians experience significantly higher rates of psychological distress compared to the general population and have lower access to mental health services. LGBTIQA+ individuals also face very high rates of depression and psychological distress and are the most at-risk group in Australia for suicide.
• Impact on Women: Women are more likely to experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy and in the year following childbirth.
• Chronic Mental Health Conditions: According to the 2021 Australian Census, mental health issues have now surpassed all other chronic illnesses, with over 2.2 million Australians reporting a diagnosed mental illness.
• Economic Impact: The cost of mental illness and suicide to Australia is estimated to be around $220 billion annually, as reported by the Productivity Commission.

 

Why establish the Australian Mental Health Prize?

 

Australia has led the way internationally in many aspects of mental health such as community awareness, public advocacy and innovative services. This includes innovative programs such as beyondblue, a mental health and wellbeing support organisation, and headspace, the national network of youth mental health services. Our open public discourse involving politicians and high-profile individuals occurs in few other countries.

 

The Australian Mental Health Prize:

• Acknowledges and recognises the important and ground-breaking work that many Australians are doing for mental health
• Raises public awareness on the importance of mental health and
• Provides an incentive to improve services and outcomes for people with mental illness.

 

What are the criteria for the Australian Mental Health Prize?

 

The Prize is awarded annually to Australians who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of mental health or the prevention or treatment of mental illness – in areas such as advocacy, research or service provision.

 

Who is involved with the Prize?

 

The Prize has been established by a group of eminent Australians in partnership with UNSW. Chaired by Sophie Scott, the Prize Advisory Group comprises: Melinda Upton, Jeremy Coggin, Associate Professor Mat Coleman, Carmel Crouch AM, UNSW Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO, UNSW Professor Kimberlie Dean, UNSW Scientia Professor Philip Mitchell AM, UNSW Professor Valsamma Eapen and UNSW Professor Maree Toombs.