Mental Health Week seems like the perfect time annually to shine the light on outstanding contributors to the community's mental health and wellbeing.

Mental Health Week first came about to highlight the wonderful work of the mental health sector across the private, public and community sectors, and to celebrate the strength, hope and recovery of those living in our community with mental health challenges.

Over the decades, we've seen awareness and understanding of mental health challenges be discussed and promoted increasingly more outside the traditional mental health services and lived experience sectors – reaching schools, workplaces, sporting clubs, the arts, community groups, pharmacies, music, universities, early childhood education, and GP offices across the State.

The WA Mental Health Awards serve both to highlight the efforts of those working within the traditional mental health sectors as well as reflect the increasing engagement across mental health and wellbeing in the broader community. The givers. The doers. The carers. The supporters. The people who don't ask for much in return, except to do their best for the people they serve or love.

Whether people work or volunteer in our amazing mental health sector; graciously share their lived experience expertise and learnings about improving support; or make an impact everywhere else they live, learn, work and play in our community - you are seen, and we thank you!

So without further ado, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health is excited to announced the finalists for the2022 Mental Health Awards:

Minister's Award
Presented by: Minister for Mental Health, the Honourable Amber-Jade Sanderson

Winner:

  • Lorraine Powell, Lived Experience Australia

Finalists:

  • Adam Przytula, Armed for Life
  • Anne Mackay, Radiance Network South West
  • Steve Batson, South Metropolitan Health Service

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Lived experience Impact and Inspiration Award
Presented by: Western Australian Mental Health Commission

Winner:

  • Anna Richards, Consumers of Mental Health WA

Finalists:

  • Chris Johnson, Ruah Community Services
  • Jacqueline de Grussa, The Recovery Collective
  • William Turner, South West Aboriginal Medical Services

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Mental Health Employee or Volunteer Excellence Award
Presented by: Act Belong Commit

Winner:

  • Ann McGuire, Mental Health Matters 2

Finalists:

  • Kelson Mudd, Men's Recovery Community
  • Regina Cruickshank, Yogazeit
  • Zac Cawdron, Youth at Risk Network

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Innovation for Change Award
Presented by: Youth Focus

Winner:

  • Care and Protection Service, Ruah Legal Services

Finalists:

  • International Pen Pal Program, Carers WA
  • Living My Best Life graphic novel, Richmond Wellbeing
  • The Peel, Rockingham and Kwinana (PaRK) Suicide Postvention Collective

Read more about the finalists here.

Prevention or Promotion Award
Presented by: Lifeline WA 

Winner:

  • The Living Room, Student Life, The University of Western Australia

Finalists:

  • Inspire Peer Support at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Ruah Community Services and Palmerston
  • Shooting Stars
  • Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families program, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Diversity Award
Presented by: Roshana Care Group

Winner:

  • Strong and Resilient Program, HelpingMinds

Finalists:

  • ‘Words to live by' storytelling series, Act Belong Commit, Mentally Healthy WA
  • Yorgum Healing Services

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Mentally Healthy Education Award
Presented by: Commissioner for Children and Young People

Winner:

  • Westfield Park Primary School

Finalists:

  • Fiona Perrella, Strength Heroes
  • Makybe Rise Primary School
  • The Living Room, Student Life, The University of Western Australia

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Mentally Healthy Workplace Award
Presented by: Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia

Winner:

  • Roy Hill

Finalists:

  • AMCAP
  • PageGroup
  • Strong Minds, Strong Mines

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Mental Health News Media Award
Presented by: Western Australian Association for Mental Health 

Winner:

  • Joined Up Films, SBS

Finalists:

  • Greg Hire, founder of A Stitch in Time, for his five-part mental health series on Channel 10 News
  • Joined Up Films, SBS
  • Rae Fallon, filmmaker of Playgroup WA's short film, 'Mother-Baby-Nurture'
  • Rhiannon Shine, ‘Mental health of teenagers in decline during COVID pandemic’, ABC News

Read more about the winner and finalists here.

Congratulations to all of this year's winner and finalists!

Every year, the WA Mental Health Awards showcase the tireless dedication and contribution of individuals and teams in our sector, schools, workplaces and the community to help keep people mentally healthy.

Thank you for being part of the WA Mental Health Awards! Winners were announced at the Awards Celebration Ceremony on Friday evening, held on 25 November at Pan Pacific.

Judging Process

A judging panel made up of members of the mental health sector and including individuals with lived experience, will independently assess all nominations and will rank entries in each category.

Nominations had to explain how your nominee meets the criteria of the category of which they are being nominated.