Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR)

Following Cecil Kidd's death, Scott Henderson, Issy Pilowsky, Graham Burrows and Peter Beumont joined in setting up a national forum. In April 1978, they held a small conference at the Australian National University. At an informal discussion in the Florey Theatre of the John Curtin School of Medical Research, they decided to form the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR). Since that year, the Society has held annual scientific meetings, moving round the capital cities. It has acted as a forum for people to report their studies and to have them discussed by their peers. Particular encouragement is given to younger investigators. The Society has also developed a role in advocacy for research funding in the same manner as the Australian Society for Medical Research. Attendance at meetings has greatly expanded over the years. In 1995, the Society became the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research in belated recognition of the participation from New Zealanders.

Recognising a need to update the constitution of the Society, as well as the opportunity to be the recipient of funds raised via the ABC Mental As campaign, a number of changes were made to the Society in July 2014. Following a Special General Meeting, 3 resolutions were passed by the membership, that would move ASPR into a new era. The first resolution, passed unanimously, was to update the constitution to enable the Society to become a health promotion charity and register for DGR status. The second resolution, again passed unanimously, was to change the name of the Society. The third resolution enabled the name of the Society to be changed to "The Society for Mental Health Research. These changes will enable SMHR to provide much needed support to early career researchers as they embark on their career, following the paths of the founders of ASPR.