Manna Institute is a virtual research institute dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing in rural, regional and remote Australia. It supports meaningful, translatable place-based research and fosters the development of professional mental health researchers and aligned workforces.
Manna brings together leading mental health researchers from seven universities in the Regional Universities Network (RUN) – Charles Sturt University, Central Queensland University, Federation University, Southern Cross University, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Sunshine Coast and UNE. Manna Institute’s work tackles the impacts of the changing environment, systemic and geographic inequities, and challenges of delivering mental health supports throughout the vast Australian landscape. Their four mental health research streams focus on child, youth and family; physical activity; ageing and disability; and distress and suicide prevention. Each stream is a collaboration of researchers from multiple universities, First Nations and Lived Experience representatives, and community and industry partners from partner organisations including Foundation partners Everymind, Lifeline Direct and the Australian National University’s Centre for Mental Health Research.