The Federal Government has pledged a further $5 million in mental health research funding in a bid to support suicide prevention, substance abuse and ensure better mental health planning.

Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, was joined by Minister for Mental Health, Mark Butler, in announcing the funding which will be shared between two new Centres of Research Excellence at the University of NSW.

Ms Plibersek said the centres formed part of the Government’s 2011 Budget commitment of $26.2 million over five years to strategic investment in mental health research. 

“Minister Butler and I are delighted to open these centres as part of the Government’s strategic investment in mental health research priorities through the National Health and Medical Research Council,” Ms Plibersek said. 

“Centres of Research Excellence work to achieve real health gains for Australians. They support the transfer of research outcomes into improved knowledge, better health systems and improved treatment for individuals and their families.” 

Mr Butler said the two centres would play an important role in advancing our understanding of correlations between substance use and mental health, as well as improve suicide prevention efforts. 

“Mental health and substance use disorders account for more years of life lost due to disability than any other disorders, and often occur together, affecting more than 300,000 Australians every year.” 

The breakdown of the funding is as follows:

  • Professor Helen Christensen, UNSW Black Dog Institute, received $2.5 million to improve suicide prevention in Australia through better implementation of effective interventions, improved risk identification and evidence informed policy.
  • Professor Maree Teesson, UNSW National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre received $2.5 million to address mental health and substance use and to examine innovative prevention and treatment.