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Whau Mental Health Research Foundation

The Whau Mental Health Research Foundation facilitates top-tier research initiatives focused on mental health and addiction within Aotearoa.

To date, we have enabled almost 200 projects, investing $2.5 million dollars into mental health innovations and developments.

With your support, we can further advance mental health policy and practice across Aotearoa.

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Why Support Whau Mental Health Research Foundation?

Almost half of New Zealanders will experience mental illness or distress in their lifetime. The call for impactful mental health research is louder than ever.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help to improve mental health in Aotearoa.

Donate today to make a difference.

Invested
Whau Foundation - 180+ projects funded

We have dedicated approximately $2.5 million dollars to propel mental health research and innovations forward.

Funded
Whau Foundation - 180 projects funded

We’ve supported almost 200 research projects addressing a wide range of mental health issues, paving the way for better treatments and outcomes.

57 Years
Whau Foundation - 57 Years Strong

Since 1967, we’ve been committed to advancing mental health research and encouraging new researchers, dedicated to creating a lasting impact.

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How to Give

Your generosity fuels life-changing research. From one-time donations to monthly giving or leaving a legacy gift, every contribution helps us advance mental health care in Aotearoa. Join us in creating a brighter, healthier future for all.

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Apply for Funding

Whau Mental Health Research Foundation is here to support pioneering projects that make a difference. Apply to join our mission of advancing mental health care in Aotearoa.

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Research Success Stories

Whau Foundation helps to address gaps in knowledge and service delivery by supporting innovative research. Our work focuses on evidence-based practices and developing effective interventions. 

We’ve supported almost 200 research projects across Aotearoa, driving advancements in understanding and addressing mental health challenges faced by New Zealanders.

We prioritise finding out what actually works in mental health care, ensuring that our initiatives are grounded in research and real-world outcomes.

2023

University of Canterbury

The Gauging Risk and Resilience in Teenagers (GRIT) Study

Researcher

Dr Samantha Lee

Child and Youth Mental Health Details

2021

University of Auckland

Text based support following a suicide attempt

Researcher

Dr Lillian Ng

Suicide Prevention Details

2020

University of Otago

Understanding the relationship between alcohol and suicide in New Zealand

Researcher

Dr Rose Crossin

Suicide Prevention Details

2020

University of Auckland

Acceptability to Māori of an online platform and interactive chatbot to support mental health wellbeing

Researcher

Dr Amy Hai Yan Chan

Māori Mental Health

News

Stay connected with the latest news from Whau Mental Health Research Foundation. Here, you’ll find updates on research, upcoming events, and inspiring stories of progress in mental health care across Aotearoa. Explore how, together, we’re making a real difference.

Funding Research Events All news

An Update from Professor Jim Wright

Professor Jim Wright was one of the early recipients of funding from the Whau Mental Health Research Foundation. Over the course of his career, with support from the Foundation and other groups he developed a sophisticated mathematical model of brain function that describes how information processing associated with cognitive function develops, how visual perception occurs … Read more

Whau Foundation Chairman Robert Kydd on Newstalk ZB

Whau Foundation Chairman Emeritus Professor Robert Kydd was invited to join The Nutters Club at Newstalk ZB to share his journey into psychiatry and decades of work in New Zealand’s mental health system. He joined Hamish Williams and psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald o discuss what is working, what needs to change, and how research ensures funding … Read more

Help Kick-Start Our 2025 Target Fund for Anxiety and Depression

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re focusing on a critical need: anxiety and depression, particularly among young people. These issues are rising rapidly, and with one of the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD, the urgency to act has never been more pressing. Nearly half of New Zealanders will experience mental distress at … Read more
Funding Research Events All news

Donate Now

The call for impactful mental health research is louder than ever.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help to improve mental health in Aotearoa.

Donate today to make a difference.

Donate Now
Growing Knowledge, Changing Lives
Whau Foundation Logo

Whau Mental Health Research Foundation is dedicated to facilitating research that advances mental health, transforms lives, and offers hope to individuals and families across Aotearoa. With nearly 60 years of experience, over $2.5 million invested, and almost 200 research projects supported, we are shaping a healthier, more compassionate future for mental health care together. By engaging the brightest minds in mental health research, we drive progress that creates real and lasting impact.

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whaufoundation.org.nz

Whau Mental Health Research Foundation is registered under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 and as a charity under the Charities Act 2005, CC10497.