News and Media

All media enquiries, including requests for comment from the CEO, should be directed to communications@waamh.org.au or call +61(0)8 6246 3027 or 0488 661 277.   This contact is for media outlets only, for all other enquiries, please visit the WAAMH contact page.

If you have news to contribute to WAAMH's monthly newsletter, please submit your content via the online form.

Resources for journalists

Mindframe is a national program supporting safe media reporting, portrayal and communication about suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drugs. Mindframe is managed by Everymind and is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program.  

Mindframe have produced evidence-based resources developed in consultation with media professionals and peak media bodies, suicide prevention and mental health organisations, lived and living experience networks, and Mindframe advisory groups. Access resources

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Announcements

  • 04 Oct 2019

    Media Release: Mental Health Week starts today

    Mental Health Week has been running in Western Australia for more than 50 years, but the importance of this campaign for mental health awareness remains as relevant as ever. The theme for Mental Health 2019 is: ‘Mental health starts where we live, learn, work and play’, highlighting the importance of places we go everyday where we can protect and foster our mental wellbeing as a preventative measure.

  • 26 Sep 2019

    Media Release - Conference program launched

    THE FULL PROGRAM can finally be revealed for the 3rd Western Australian Mental Health Conference, with keynote speakers including Australian tennis champion and author Jelana Doric; Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Helen Milroy; Dr Sebastian Rosenberg; Matt Ball from The Humane Clinic; Di Wilcox, author of popular kids wellbeing book, The Magic Coat; an Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing panel facilitated by Aboriginal Health Council of WA chair Vicki O’Donnell; and a unique comedy coping workshop with comedian Steph Tisdell.

  • 19 Sep 2019

    Media Release - Highest number of Mental Health Week WA community event grants delivered in history to meet ever-growing demand

    THANKS to support from Lotterywest, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) was able to distribute successful grants worth a combined total of $70,000 to 70 not-for-profit, charitable organisations across Western Australia, including 21 regional groups, to hold their own events and activities as part of this year’s Mental Health Week community grants program.

  • 12 Jul 2019

    Long term solutions needed to to end homlessness, not just short term responses to manage it

    WAAMH is sharing this media release on behalf of the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, which points to three main evidence-based international strategies to end homelessness in response to comments from Assistant Minister for Homelessness Luke Howarth and to the Morrison Government.

  • 23 May 2019

    WA State Mental Health Conference and Awards set to return in late 2019

    IN the interest of creating a more sustainable mental health system and strengthening our community in Western Australia, the WA Mental Health Conference 2019 will again draw experts together from a diverse range of fields to explore best practice which improves people’s lives. Both the conference and the awards are hosted and coordinated by the peak body for community mental health in the State, the WA Association for Mental Health and supported by the WA Government’s Mental Health Commission.

  • 15 May 2019

    Mental health budget 2019 lowdown: Prevention targets missing in action

    After some in-depth analysis, our team has crunched the figures and the features of the State Budget 2019 and its impact on the mental health sector.

  • 09 May 2019

    Joint Media Statement: State Budget does not properly address Aboriginal suicide prevention

    Urgent action is required to address the unacceptable number of deaths caused by suicide in Aboriginal communities. Cutting prevention investment in the State Budget exposes a significant missed opportunity to improve people’s outcomes and help prevent these tragedies in our communities. The Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH), Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre (Moorditj Koort) and the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) with its member services, are relieved the State Government has extended the Suicide Prevention Strategy – which was due to end on 30 June 2019 – for a further 18 months. However, are alarmed at the cuts to overall prevention spend.

  • 17 Apr 2019

    WAAMH Submission: Productivity Commission Inquiry

    WAAMH's Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the 'Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health'. This submission is based on a range of resources, including academic research; existing WAAMH papers and submissions; existing WAAMH consultation findings; and, feedback and insights from wide consultation with people in the mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) and other relevant sectors, including people with lived experience, families and carers.

  • 16 Apr 2019

    Media Release: National report exposes further holes in NDIS transition

    WAAMH has raised concerns based on report findings released by The University of Sydney and Australia’s coalition of community mental health peaks, Community Mental Health Australia that show a significant inadequacy of support for thousands of people living with serious mental illness in Australia, currently left outside of the NDIS.

  • 11 Apr 2019

    Media Release: Funding injection into sustainable health promising but missing the right balance

    WAAMH welcomes today’s announcement from the State Government to direct $23.1 million towards mental health recommendations from the Sustainable Health Review, and further funding for decommissioning Graylands Hospital and establishing Recovery Colleges, however we continue to see the majority of investment still being directed at hospital beds, reinforcing old structures.