CEO Blog
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Addressing factors impacting mental health: financial stress and housing
12 November 2026
At our recent Members' Policy Forum in Sydney, we asked lived experience advocate and peer worker Spencer Barberis what was driving the mental health challenges he was seeing every day in the people h…
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At a time like this, how we talk about mental health matters
5 November 2026
We’ve just wrapped up Mental Health Month in October, a time of shared stories, community events and important conversations about mental health. Each year, it provides an opportunity to raise awarene…
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Members’ Policy Forum 2026: Key takeaways from Sydney
29 October 2026
It was a huge day on Tuesday at our Members' Policy Forum in Sydney, but I left feeling energised. Not because the challenges facing mental health are getting any smaller. In many ways, they're b…
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Access to mental health specialists: a critical reform priority
22 October 2026
Access to mental health specialists: a critical reform priority Every year, one in five people in Australia experiences mental health challenges. Yet for many people, accessing specialist mental …
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Getting NDIS reform right for people with psychosocial disability and their family, carers and kin
15 October 2026
Mental Health Australia recently joined many others across the disability and mental health sectors in contributing to important Australian Government consultations on National Disability Insurance Sc…
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World Mental Health Day: An issue that’s close to home
8 October 2026
This Saturday is World Mental Health Day. And for many of us, it's an issue that's close to home. Nearly one in two Australians will experience a mental health challenge during their lifetime.&nb…
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Built for connection but drifting apart: why connection matters more than ever this Mental Health Month
1 October 2026
Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Month, and this year's national theme, Together We Thrive, highlights the critical role that connection, belonging and community play in mental health and we…
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Connection, belonging and community at the heart of this year’s Mental Health Month
24 September 2026
Connection, belonging and community at the heart of this year’s Mental Health Month Most days, I walk my dog Otto around my neighbourhood. Along the way, there's usually a quick hello to a neighb…
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Building safer digital spaces for young people's mental health and wellbeing
17 September 2026
Building safer digital spaces for young people's mental health and wellbeing Watching the next generation grow up, I'm often struck by how different their experience is from the one I had. For ma…
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Reminding us why we need more action on mental health
9 September 2026
Today, we mark two significant days on Australia’s mental health calendar: World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK?Day.World Suicide Prevention Day is a time to reflect, connect and renew our shared c…
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Guest blog: Body image and eating disorder awareness week 2026: Redefining ‘Wellness’
2 September 2026
Guest blog by Dr Sarah Trobe, National Director, National Eating Disorders Collaboration for Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week (BIEDAW), held from 7 to 13 SeptemberEach day as we mov…
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Seeing the full picture - why mental health data matters
27 August 2026
Seeing the full picture – why mental health data mattersGood data helps to tell us where change is needed.Last week, the National Mental Health Commission released its 2025 National Report C…
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Why a safe home matters for mental health
20 August 2026
It’s incredibly hard to recover from a mental health crisis without somewhere safe to live. Stable housing is fundamental to mental health, wellbeing, dignity and participating in communities, wo…
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Sending a united message for mental health reform
13 August 2026
One of the things that gives me hope is seeing our sector come together.As organisations representing diverse communities and interest groups, we don't always agree on every issue. That's healthy. Dif…
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A critical missing piece of Australia’s mental health system
6 August 2026
A critical missing piece of Australia’s mental health systemEveryone should be able to access the support they need to live well and participate fully in their community. Yet for 500,000 people experi…
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A generation under pressure: What Australia’s Health 2026 tells us about mental health
22 July 2026
Young people are continuing to face rising levels of mental health challenges, and our mental health system and services are struggling to keep up with demand.This was a key takeaway from the Australi…
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Beyond awareness – measurable changes to stigma and discrimination
15 July 2026
“Despite improvements in attitudes to mental health, my experiences of discrimination have increased over the past decade… The bottom line is, when I talk about depression and anxiety symptoms, I get …
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NAIDOC Week 2026: A reflection from Gayaa Dhuwi
9 July 2026
This NAIDOC Week, 50 Years of Deadly marks five decades of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, culture, truth-telling, resistance and achievement. The official theme reminds us that…
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With the clock ticking, getting the new National Agreement right matters
2 July 2026
This week marks the start of a new financial year – and for those of us in the mental health sector it also signals an important moment. On 1 July, the current …
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At the heart of strong communities: our not-for-profit sector
25 June 2026
At the recent opening of a community mental health service, I listened to a mother share her experience of struggling with mental health challenges after the birth of her first child. She spoke with h…
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