Improving the diagnosis and treatment of the world's major
mental disorders.

The Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI) aims to be a global leader in research that improves the lives of people affected by mental illness
including psychotic illness (schizophrenia and depression) and neurodegenerative diseases (dementia and Alzheimer’s disease).

Our objectives are:

• To undertake sustainable, highest quality, basic neuroscience, clinical and public health research
• To promote understanding of and investment in research through advocacy
• To educate clinicians and researchers
• To provide expert commentary on the scientific basis of mental illness including psychotic illness (schizophrenia and depression) and neurodegenerative diseases (dementia and Alzheimer’s disease).

Based in Melbourne, Australia, MHRI concentrates its efforts towards understanding:

Schizophrenia Bipolar disorder Major depression

Alzheimer's disease Parkinson's disease Huntington's disease

Mental Illness

Mental illnesses impose a significant burden on the health and well being of communities worldwide.

Five of the world's ten leading causes of disability are related to mental illness. The share of global disease burden associated with mental illnesses is predicted to grow further in the coming decades, increasing by almost 50%, from 10.5% of the total burden to almost 15% in 2020 (WHO, 2004).

Approximately 20% of all people will experience some form of mental illness un their lifetime.