Krystian Seibert, Chair of the Mental Health First Aid International Board, shares his reflections on our milestone 25th year.
2025 has been a big year for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) International, as we have continued our work to grow a global movement dedicated to providing evidence-based mental health first aid education for everyone.
As Chair of the Board, it’s pleasing to look back and celebrate all that has been achieved, and to thank our partners and supporters for their significant contributions to this work.
This year marked some important milestones for MHFA International – the 25th anniversary of MHFA, the completion of our first Reconciliation Action Plan, and concluding a period of significant Board renewal.
Twenty-five years ago, our co-founders, Betty Kitchener AM and Emeritus Professor Tony Jorm, had an idea. We have physical first aid, but why don’t we have mental health first aid?
An innovative idea is important – but it is only a spark. Through dedication, collaboration and community, a global movement has been built. From its humble beginnings in 2000 in Canberra, on the lands of the Ngunnawal people, MHFA is now licensed in 50 countries and counting.
In 2025 alone, more than 1 million people worldwide were trained in local communities, sporting clubs, educational institutions, and workplaces, bringing the total to 8.9 million since the program started in 2000. This is nearly 9 million people who have been equipped with the skills and confidence to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing with friends, family, or co-workers. These are conversations that may change a life – or indeed, save one.
And that is why what we do, as an organisation and as a global movement, matters so much.
The number of countries involved in MHFA and people trained is extraordinary, but we recognise that our work is far from over. Over the next five years to 2030, we aim to double the number of people trained in MHFA. Working together with our partners and supporters, we can achieve this goal.
While MHFA International acts as a global steward, the MHFA movement is, and always has been, powered by the collective effort of MHFAiders, instructors, trainers, partners and providers around the world. Your amazing contributions give hope, touch lives, and ensure everyone can learn new skills to help them support others when it matters most.
In Australia, a major focus for us in 2025 was the expansion of our self-funded Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community programs. This included the expansion of the team supporting the national network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander instructors and the completion of the development of the Youth Yarns program, our latest culturally responsive and community-led program offering, which will be launched in 2026. We are also pleased to have completed our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and look forward to commencing work on our Innovate RAP in early 2026.
Also in Australia, we were delighted to continue our work with Australian Defence Force veterans and families through the Mental Health Protect program delivered in collaboration with LivingWorks Australia, and medical, nursing, midwifery and allied health students through our MHFA for Health Professional Students program. I would like to thank The Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, and The Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, for their ongoing support.
A commitment to best practice governance underpins the work of MHFA International, and 2024 and 2025 was a period of significant Board renewal. In July, the Board was delighted to welcome three new non-executive directors, each of whom bring valuable and diverse skills:
- Professor Maree Toombs, a leading researcher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, culturally safe practices, and co-design.
- Anna Gelling, a Chief Technology Officer with diverse experience in digital transformation and product innovation across the technology, publishing and media, telecommunications, life sciences, and the mental health sectors.
- Simon Blake OBE, CEO of Stonewall, the United Kingdom’s human rights charity focused on LGBTIQA+ equality. Simon is also the former CEO of MHFA England.
Our co-founder and inaugural Board Chair Emeritus Professor Tony Jorm concluded his service on the Board in June. Tony and Betty have made an extraordinary contribution to mental health literacy in Australia and worldwide. It is through their vision, generosity, and tireless hard work over 25 years that MHFA International is the organisation that it is today. We were pleased to recognise and celebrate their contributions at a special gala dinner held in Melbourne in August.
We are very grateful for the support of partner organisations from Austria, England, Hong Kong, India, Ireland and the United States who are IGWG members, and look forward them handing down their final report, recommendations, and roadmap for reform in October 2026.
As we approach the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude and thanks to my Board colleagues, the staff team led by our CEO Gus Clelland, partner organisations, trainers, instructors, and MHFAiders world-wide. I wish you a safe and restful break and look forward to working with you in 2026.
Krystian Seibert
Board Chair
Mental Health First Aid International
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