The University of Canberra (UC) has announced the establishment of the $100,000 Betty Kitchener Prize to support students pursuing important mental health research projects.
Executive Dean of Health at UC, Professor Michelle Lincoln said Betty Kitchener is an esteemed UC graduate and mental health educator who co-founded the Mental Health First Aid Program (MHFA) with her husband, Professor Tony Jorm.
“Since the MHFA Program was founded in 2000, it has spread to over 25 countries, and over three million people worldwide have undertaken the training,” Professor Lincoln said.
“The program has received many awards and recognitions, even former US First Lady Michelle Obama has taken the training.”
“The program has revolutionised the ways in which mental health problems are responded to and treated within the community,” he said.
Professor Lincoln said Professor Jorm and Ms Kitchener had generously donated the endowed fund of $100,000 for UC to support the important research being done in the mental health space.
He said high quality research was needed to determine how to best support and when necessary intervene to assist recovery and promote mental health.
“It’s estimated that every year in Australia, 20 per cent of people aged 16 to 85 years will experience a form of mental illness.”
He said the nature of the endowment would see annual contributions being made to mental health research projects for many years.
“Such generosity will ensure we continue to design, evaluate and improve mental health supports and services,” Professor Lincoln said.
