Mental Health First Aid® International today announced the retirement of Emeritus Professor Tony Jorm from his role as a Board Director, marking the conclusion of a remarkable chapter in the organisation’s history.
Professor Jorm, who co-founded Mental Health First Aid (MHFA®) in 2000 with his wife Betty Kitchener AM, has played a pivotal role in transforming an Australian idea into one of the world’s most impactful mental health education programs.
With more than 8 million people trained worldwide, MHFA now operates in over 40 countries and is regarded as a global leader in increasing mental health literacy, reducing stigma, and building community capacity to intervene early.
Prof Jorm’s pioneering work in mental health literacy and early intervention has reshaped how individuals across homes, schools, workplaces, and communities understand and respond to mental health problems and crises.
Mental Health First Aid International (MHFAI) Board Chair Krystian Seibert expressed his appreciation for Prof Jorm’s extraordinary service:
“On behalf of MHFAI, I extend our deepest thanks to Professor Jorm as he steps down from his role as a Board Director. As co-founder of MHFA alongside Betty Kitchener, Prof Jorm’s vision, commitment and leadership have been instrumental in building a global movement that touches people’s lives in communities right across the world.
“For more than two decades, Prof Jorm’s dedication – as a co-founder, researcher, innovator, inaugural Board Chair, and most recently Board Director – has been marked by generosity, empathy, and a deep belief in the power of individuals, workplaces and communities to support one another.”
“As Chair of MHFAI, I would also like to express my personal gratitude to Prof Jorm, for his guidance and support, and for the opportunity to learn from him during our time on the Board together,’ Mr Seibert said.
Mental Health First Aid International CEO Angus Clelland said Prof Jorm has contributed significantly to Australia’s development of a world-leading health promotion charity and education program.
“In Canberra 25 years ago, while walking their dog, Betty and Tony asked a simple question – ‘We have physical first aid, why don’t we have mental health first aid?’. The program has grown to be an essential part of mental health promotion and early intervention strategies worldwide, with millions of people trained globally.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating Betty and Tony’s extraordinary achievements at our 25th anniversary gala dinner tonight in Melbourne,” Mr Clelland added.
