Mental Health Month Spotlight: Mental Health Carers Australia

Today my Mental Health Week focus is on Mental Health Carers Australia.

Formerly known as ARAFMI (Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill) Mental Health Carers Australia’s mission is to represent at a national level the interests and concerns of families and others voluntarily caring for people with mental illness throughout Australia.

Initially founded through the grassroots efforts of mental health carers as the national network of Arafmi services, Mental Health Carers Australia seeks to:

-Advocate on behalf of carers
-Explore and strengthen the mental health caring role
-Develop knowledge, improve skills and offer support to reduce isolation and enhance the caring journey

The Mental Health Carers Australia member organisations services across Australia are:
-Mental Health Carers Tasmania
-Mind Australia
-Arafmi Mental Health Carers and Friends Association (WA) Inc
-Mental Illness Fellowship NT
-Mental Health Carers Arafmi Qld
-Arafmi NSW

Member organisations have been providing information and support to carers across Australia for over 30 years. Initially founded through the grassroots efforts of mental health carers, Mental Health Carers Australia seeks to explore and strengthen the mental health caring role, develop knowledge, improve skills and offer support to reduce isolation and enhance the caring journey.The Mental Health Carers Australia grew out of the national movement of ARAFMI organisations across Australia. Originally ARAFMI was an acronym for Association of Relatives And Friends of the Mentally Ill.

The first ARAFMI group was formed in Sydney in 1975 by a concerned group of carers who identified the need for a service that would specifically address the concerns of carers, relatives and friends.

The movement quickly spread to other States and to the  Territories and ARAFMI became the primary provider of services for carers of people with a mental illness in Australia.

The Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia was incorporated in October 1998.

In 2016 the organisation is known as Mental Health Carers Australia.