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About Us

SANE is the leading national mental health organisation for people with complex mental health issues in Australia and for the families and friends that support them.

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We're making space for complex mental health.

An estimated 880,000 Australians over 18 years of age are living with complex mental illness in any year, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder, severe anxiety, OCD and PTSD, substance use disorders and eating disorders(1). The estimated 205,000 autistc people(2) and 588,700 people with intellectual disability(3) also face significant gaps in appropriate mental health support(4,5).

Inaccessible treatment and support can lead to declining mental health, followed by preventable physical and mental distress, disruption in education and employment, relationship breakdowns, stigma and loss of quality of life and opportunities.

We’re committed to creating a brighter future for people affected by complex mental health issues by ending mental health inequity and social and economic exclusion.

SANE offers a range of free digital and telehealth support services for people over 18 years of age with complex mental health needs, and their family, friends and carers. We also provide mental health support to people with intellectual disability, autism or acquired brain injury. 


We are committed to amplifying the voices of our community. We conduct practical research through our Anne Deveson Research Centre (ADRC) to drive policy change and support greater inclusion for people with complex mental health issues.

Our StigmaWatch program, which has been running since 1997, promotes responsible reporting of mental ill health and suicide in the Australian media by monitoring and responding to reports of inaccurate or inappropriate and stigmatising media portrayals.


Our values

    • We focus on the whole person and their strengths, not the illness, and believe everyone is entitled to a better life.
    • We treat everyone with grace and dignity while welcoming robust and constructive discussion.
    • We communicate our appreciation to those who give of their time, advice and financial resources.
    • We do what is right, however difficult that might be.
    • We are accountable for the decisions we make.
    • We take good care of our physical and mental health and seek help when we need it.
    • We celebrate great achievements (big and small) by ourselves and others.
    • We warmly welcome everyone who comes through our doors and we create a fun, flexible and inspiring workplace that fosters personal and professional growth.
    • We broadcast to the world heroic stories of courage, resilience and recovery.
    • We have a passion for learning, and disseminating creative solutions to real-world problems.
    • We embrace technology to build community and provide helpful information.
    • We seek out new ways to have greater impact through research, testing and evaluation, always informed by people's lived experience of complex mental health issues.
    • We partner with others who share our vision, values, passion, and commitment.
    • We work with people with lived experience of complex mental health issues to build better services, policies, and programs.
    • We encourage and support each other to do the best work we possibly can by listening, communicating and working as one team.

Ways we can support you

SANE offers different types and levels of support, so you can choose the supports that work for you. Choose from counselling, peer support, online groups and events, 24/7 community forums, and online information and resources.

Our mental health support services are accredited against the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards (NSQDMH).

Our Team

We are an organisation founded, driven, and led by people with lived experience of complex mental health issues. We’re people like you.

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Contact us

Corporate and general enquiries.

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Media & Resources

Keep up with the latest news and updates.

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Annual Reports

Read about SANE’s activities, program highlights and financial statements.

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Ethics & Policies

View the policies that govern SANE's work.

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Visions & Goals

Learn about the vision and goals that drive our work.

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Get involved

Help us make a difference for Australians affected by complex mental health.

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