Australian Rotary Health Corporate Brochure

AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH IMPROVING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS THROUGH RESEARCH

Districts of Australia

WHO WE ARE

Australian Rotary Health (ARH) is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia.

Since 1986 we have provided over $40 million worth of funding into a broad range of health research areas.

ARH funds peer reviewed competitive research Australia wide and provides funding to all universities in Australia.

Australian Rotary Health provides funding for mental health research that can be gamechanging. Its PhD scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships have launched the careers of some of our best and brightest young mental health researchers, and its project grants have been the lynchpin of some significant programs of work. That’s great for mental health researchers, but it’s even better for the Australian community. The research funded by Australian Rotary Health has allowed us to make some significant advances in reducing the impact of mental illness and promoting good mental health and wellbeing.

- Professor Jane Pirkis, Australian Rotary Health Research Committee Chair

OUR SUPPORTERS Keith Henning OAM and his wife Glennis initiated the David Henning Memorial Foundation in 2006 following the unexpected suicide of their son, David. With the money bequeathed from David’s will, Keith and Glennis decided the funds could be used to make a positive impact to suicide and mental health research through Australian Rotary Health.

David had never shown any evidence of mental health problems during his life, and the reason for his action in taking his own life is still a mystery to all.

We believe that, not only will the research these PhD students carry out during their scholarship term add to the body of knowledge about mental health, some of them will become Australia’s leading medical researchers of the future.

- Keith Henning OAM, David Henning Memorial Foundation

Pictured above: L-R: ARH CEO Joy Gillett OAM, PhD scholarship recipients Louise Birrell, Gabriela Visini and Siobhan Loughnan (third from right), Indigenous Health Scholarship recipient Andrea Torresan (middle), ARH Chairman Gregory Ross and Keith Henning OAM

Carol Smit (left) with ARH Director Jane Cox

Until Bipolar researchers are able to find the cause of Bipolar Disorder, treatment will remain limited and often quite problematic, and not always delivering a successful outcome with a mood-balanced lifestyle. Sometimes bipolar sufferers are not always willing to continue with the prescribed medication once overcome by the ‘feeling of wellness’ or sometimes due to an intolerance to the many prescribed medications.

As the founder of the Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund (IPBRF), I am honoured to be a funding partner of the ARH PhD Bipolar Research Scholarship Program raising funds for bipolar research. The IPBRF is currently raising funds for the fourth PhD scholarship recipient.

Together we are striving through research to have the quality of life improved for those living daily with bipolar disorder.

- Carol Smit, Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund

OUR SUPPORTERS

MENTAL HEALTH

COMMUNITY FORUMS Over the years Australian Rotary Health has organised many community forums across Australia, aimed at promoting mental health awareness to the community.

In February 2018, ARH teamed up with Rotary Clubs in Tasmania for the Muster for Mental Health event, which involved travelling around Tasmania to open up the conversation about mental health and raise money for research.

The Muster was full of learnings for me. The individuality of sufferers’ experiences at their darkest moments, and then again through recovery, stands out. I was impressed by the wide-ranging support at each Muster, from the Flying Doctors to the Psychs on Bikes, and the great written materials that participants could take home.

- Muster participant

Above: ARH Vice Chairman Kevin Shadbolt speaking on the forum panel

Founder of Mental Health First Aid Betty Kitchener AM (middle) accepting a Mental Health Services Award from Hon Greg Hunt and Nataly Bovopoulos

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID The Mental Health First Aid program has received financial support in the past from Australian Rotary Health and now runs in 22 countries.

The association of Australian Rotary Health with Mental Health First Aid originated with the provision of research grants to evaluate and improve the course.

The Australian Government previously provided funding to Australian Rotary Health to run courses in partnership with local Rotary clubs.

This program rolled out into high schools and teen Mental Health First Aid instructors were trained to work in schools across Australia.

Australian Rotary Health plays a key role in Australia funding research aimed at developing new and more effective ways to help people with mental illness and for training new mental health researchers.

- Professor Michael Sawyer OAM, University of Adelaide

YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELP

LIFT THE LID ON MENTAL ILLNESS 1 in 5 Australians are affected by mental illness every year.

It is likely it may even impact some of your employees, resulting in reduced productivity and more sick days.

In fact, Australian businesses lose approximately $11 billion dollars each year due to employees suffering mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

By supporting mental health research, you will contribute to worldwide knowledge about effective prevention and treatment strategies for mental health disorders.

I am so grateful for the start that ARH gave my research a decade ago. From that initial $57,000 grant, other granting bodies supported the work with over $2 million of research support, and the federal government has invested over $20 million in disseminating our intervention. There are now close to 50 workers practicing it in Youth Mental Health settings around Australia and we are hopeful of more growth in this space soon. Most importantly, there are many many young people with mental ill health who have been reconnected with their education and employment, who otherwise would not have been.

- Professor Eoin Killackey, University of Melbourne

Districts of Australia

HOW YOU CAN HELP

To #LiftTheLid on Mental Illness, your business can:

• Name a Mental Health Research Project Grant - $70,000 per year • Name a Mental Health Research PhD Scholarship - $30,000 per year for 3 years • “Adopt a Scientist” in a mental health area of your choice – by donating $50 or more

Adopting a Scientist is more than a ‘donation’. It is playing an active part in important scientific research that makes a contribution to advancing our understanding of how the world works and how our minds work within it.

Support for ‘Adopt a Scientist’ will also contribute to promoting careers in Science for young Australians. All contributions are tax deductible. For your convenience we will send you one receipt at the end of the financial year, for the total amount of your tax deductible contributions.

100% of every dollar pledged goes directly to funding research grants in areas including: - Depression - Anxiety - Youth Mental Health

- Suicide and Self-Injury - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Eating and Body Image Disorder

- Substance Abuse - Bipolar Disorder - Schizophrenia

Contact the Australian Rotary Health office on: (02) 8837 1900 or admin@arh.org.au to discuss funding options Visit australianrotaryhealth.org.au or adoptascientist.com.au to find out more 2nd Floor, 43 Hunter Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 / PO Box 3455, Parramatta NSW 2124