Supporting mental health through research

Almost one in two Australian adults experience mental illness in their lifetime. It’s something that touches us all, whether we have grappled with a mental health condition personally, or have extended our support to family, friends or colleagues who have struggled.

‘I grew up in a small town in regional New South Wales at a time when there was not a great deal of focus on mental health, and it certainly wasn’t something you spoke about openly.’

Callista was the middle child in her family and was in awe of her big brother, Julian.

‘I was forever looking up to and trying to keep up with my cool big brother Julian - which was hard because he ran like the wind. Funny and smart, he always made time to help me with my maths homework.’

But as it turned out Julian struggled with mental health issues, at a time when it wasn’t spoken about or understood.

'In his first year of uni and my final year of high school, Julian took his own life.'

While that was over twenty years ago and time has passed, Callista is frustrated and at times angry that the youth suicide rate is higher than it has ever been.

This year, Flinders University stepped-up research into mental health and launched the Órama Institute for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Neuroscience to better understand, treat and prevent mental illness.

‘I’m impressed by the work of researchers at Órama, who are investigating how digital technologies can monitor real-time symptoms of mental illness to enable early detection and early intervention.’

This is particularly important in regional, rural and remote Australia, where isolation can increase the prevalence of mental health issues, and where access to primary health care and early intervention services can be limited.

‘I invite you to join me in supporting innovative and life-changing research at the University, including early detection, intervention and support for mental health, which has the ability to change the course of someone's life.'

100% of your tax-deductible donation will support priority research at Flinders University, in areas such as mental health and wellbeing.

‘It is my hope that through the work of our researchers at Órama, youths in regional, rural and remote Australia - like my brother Julian - can in the future access online resources and treatments and change the course of their lives.’

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'Every day a family in Australia has their lives irrevocably changed.'
Callista Thillou, Executive Director of Alumni & Advancement