Formation October 2000 Region served Australia Website www.beyondblue.org.au Founder Jeff Kennett Headquarters Hawthorn | Location Victoria, Australia Chairman Jeff Kennett Chairperson Jeff Kennett Founded October 2000 | |
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Purpose To provide a national focus and community leadership to reduce the impact of depression and anxiety in the Australian community. CEO Georgie Harman (17 Jun 2014–) Profiles | ||
beyondblue is an Australian, independent non-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety disorders and related mental disorders. beyondblue works in partnership with health services, schools, workplaces, universities, media and community organisations, as well as people living with anxiety and depression, their friends and family, to raise community awareness of anxiety and depression and reduce associated stigma. Jeff Kennett is the current chairman, and its CEO is Georgie Harman.
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beyondblue takes a public health approach to anxiety and depression, focusing on improving the health of the whole population, across the whole lifespan. beyondblue works with specific population groups in a range of settings - including educational settings, workplaces, health services and online - in order to be accessible to as many people as possible.
History
beyondblue began in October 2000 as a five-year initiative of the Australian federal and state and territory governments after a period of public debate on the treatment of depression sufferers. The aim was to close down all public institutions that catered to mentally ill or socially unstable in order to save cost.
Politicians who have encouraged people to both donate to and utilise the services of beyondblue include Geoff Gallop and John Brogden.
Since 2006, the Australian Football League has supported the organisation with the beyondblue Cup awarded annually to the winner of clashes between the Geelong and Hawthorn football clubs.
Work
beyondblue addresses a range of mental health issues in Australia, including mental health stigma indigenous issues, post-natal depression school based interventions and youth mental health.
LGBT Australians
In 2011 Jeff Kennett remarked publicly that children of gay and lesbian parents have worse mental health outcomes, and amid a resulting controversy beyondblue staff and supporters called on the organisation to create specific programs for gay and lesbian Australians. In 2012, beyondblue launched a $1.5 million year-long campaign to reduce discrimination against gay, lesbian and transsexual people in Australia. In 2015, the organization issued a statement in support of same-sex marriage.
Activism
In 2013 beyondblue campaigned against the insurance industry’s discrimination against people who have experienced anxiety and depression. They also launched a campaign featuring actor Ben Mendelsohn as the character "Anxiety", describing symptoms and how it feels to experience anxiety, and conducted a survey into the mental health of doctors and medical students finding very high rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
A 2015 survey of 1,200 Australians by TNS Australia revealed that 1 in 5 Australians still believe that people with anxiety are just "putting it on". beyondblue is launching another campaign on radio and TV to raise awareness of anxiety and its symptoms. An Australian actor Guy Pearce provided the voice over for this campaign.
Men are a key audience for beyondblue and the Man Therapy campaign has achieved widespread coverage. The campaign was a "first of its kind" program in Australia and features a humorous character, Dr Brian Ironwood, urging men to take action when it comes to their wellbeing.
Beyondblue and AOMB also reached agreement to fundraise an initiative to raise awareness of anxiety and depression in Australia by organising several charity events.