Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to tackling mental health head on. As Australia’s only dedicated mental health research foundation, we exist to support ground breaking research that will help to transform the lives of those affected by mental health issues. Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation has stemmed from Flinders Foundation, which has a 40-year history of supporting world-leading research and the health needs of its community within the Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University in South Australia. Flinders Foundation identified that mental health issues were growing at an alarming rate, with existing services unable to slow the growth of mental illness – the biggest health challenge in our lifetime – and its devastating impacts. Recognising that more needed to be done, a foundation dedicated to fixing the problem through mental health research was established. We recognise the size of the problem and the need for a new approach based on research. Breakthrough is partnering with the South Australian Mental Health Commission. South Australia has a unique opportunity to develop a mental health research strategy for the state, reducing the impact for one in two Australian adults who will experience mental illness in their lifetime. A research strategy for mental health in South Australia would see our state leading the nation and Breakthrough is the vehicle we need to deliver the evidence which can change mental health policy, practice and ultimately the way we care for people with mental illness. The Mental Health Commission is committed to strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians and it recognises that it is only through research that we will make advances in mental health care that can be applied globally. Without research we would not have made advancements in heart disease and cancer and we need to invest in mental health research to save people from experiencing the devastating effects of mental illness. It’s going to take a truly collective effort to achieve the research breakthroughs we so desperately need.