The Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) aims to improve the mental health of individuals through research and development, training, policy and the dissemination of health information.

Mission

To reduce the prevalence of mental health concerns in the community and improve the lived experience of people with a mental illness, through high quality research and translation of research into practice and policy.

Research

CMHR undertakes research which focuses primarily on mental health, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and bipolar disorder.  

CMHR respects the privacy of its research participants, friends and benefactors, personnel, and all others associated with CMHR. We are guided by laws, policies and procedures outlined in our privacy in research guidelines.

CMHR includes two closely related research units.

e-mental Health Research and Development group (e-hub)

The e-hub group includes technical staff, clinicians, and academic researchers who develop and evaluate websites that deliver psycho-education and psychological interventions for common mental health problems, as well as clinical and consumer networking.

See community resources for more information about e-hub's suite of free online resources and self-help. An overview of e-hub's web services has also been published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Depression and Anxiety Consumer Research Unit (CRU)

Professor Kathy Griffiths established CRU in 2003 in order to promote greater involvement of consumers (people who have experienced a mental health disorder) in research content and practice by serving as a bridge between consumers and researchers. CRU is staffed by academic researchers and students who are also consumers, and undertakes research relating to consumer perspectives and stigma. 

CRU also maintains a register of people who are interested in taking part in research conducted by CMHR. See participation in mental health research for more information.

AFFIRM: Fundraising and community awareness

CMHR also has a foundation - AFFIRM: The Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research, which works with business and community sectors to undertake outreach and fundraising for mental health research.

History

CMHR was known as the Social Psychiatry Research Unit when it was first established in 1975 by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It was renamed the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Centre in 1996, and took the name Centre for Mental Health Research in 2000. Professor Kathy Griffiths is the current Director.