UNSW Sydney is seeking nominations for the 2020 Australian Mental Health Prize.
Friday 26 June: Henry Brodaty AO, Scientia Professor of Ageing and Mental Health at UNSW, is seeking nominations to recognise Australians who have made outstanding contributions to either the promotion of mental health or the prevention and treatment of mental illness.
"It has been a tough year. Following the bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have tested the mental health of Australians in ways most people have never experienced," said Professor Brodaty.
"Now more than ever we must remove the stigma associated with mental illness. We should celebrate those in the community making a real difference - frontline workers, mental health advocates, researchers and clinicians. We want to recognise the contributions of those in our mental health sector and communities for their brilliance, dedication and hard-work."
In an op-edpublished by The Sun Herald, Chair of the Australian Mental Health Prize and former Australian of the Year, Ita Buttrose AC OBE, writes:
"Many experts anticipate the economic and social upheaval caused by the pandemic will result in significant increases in rates of depression and anxiety, already common in our society, as well as escalation in the rates of suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder and domestic and family violence.
"Mental illnesses are highly disabling. One in three Australians will have a mental illness in their lifetime. In any one year, one in five adults and one in seven children aged 4 to 17, will experience some form of mental illness."
In urging everyone to consider making a nomination, Ms Buttrose noted: "The Prize provides both inspiration for and recognition of all people in the community and mental health workers trying to prevent and treat mental illness."
Now in its fifth year, the Australian Mental Health Prize was established by UNSW through its School of Psychiatry.
The general public, clinicians, health professionals and community groups are invited to nominate individuals they feel are making a real difference in the area of mental health research, advocacy or service delivery. Nominations close 30 August: https://www.australianmentalhealthprize.org.au/nominations
Professor Brodaty is
