Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation

Name

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation

Legal name

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation

Website

https://breakthroughfoundation.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation is an Australian nonprofit foundation that funds mental health research through Flinders University and delivers community education, training, and digital mental health programs across South Australia and broader Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Research Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Mental health research
• Community mental health
• Mental health education
• Mental health training
• Eating disorder therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Voluntary donations from individuals, corporations, and community members to fund mental health research and programs.
2. Merchandise: Sale of merchandise through the merchandise store to generate funds for the foundation.
3. Events and Fundraising: Community fundraising events, hosted fundraisers, and corporate events that generate donations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation is an Australian nonprofit that funds ground-breaking mental health research and translates findings into community programs. It delivers mental health education and training (such as Mental Health First Aid), operates digital classroom modules and online therapy pilots, and runs community engagement events to normalize conversations about mental illness.

Product overview

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation operates as a for-purpose research organization offering a portfolio of mental health education, training, and digital therapy programs. The core offerings include Big Talks for Little People (a digital mental health classroom module), Mental Health First Aid Training (Standard and Youth), mental health awareness sessions, and specialized programs like Men's Meals and Mental Health and Women's Wisdom and Wellbeing. The foundation also delivers Camp Breakthrough (an overnight mental health camp for children) and funds research programs including DBT-A (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents) and Online CBT-ED (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders). Additional engagement programs include the A Safe Space Podcast and Car Conversation initiative. All offerings work together to fulfill the organization's mission of funding evidence-based research, connecting communities, and providing education to prevent mental illness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Safe Space Podcast: Podcast platform providing discussions about mental health topics to normalize conversations
• Car Conversation
• Big Talks for Little People
• DBT-A Program
• Camp Breakthrough

Products and services

• Big Talks for Little People A digital mental health education kit for students with six 40-minute lessons focused on social and emotional learning, designed to help students understand their mental health and enhance wellbeing.
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Standard) Standard mental health first aid training course providing participants with skills to support individuals experiencing mental health crises or developing mental health problems.
• Mental Health First Aid Training (Youth) Specialized mental health first aid training focused on supporting young people experiencing mental health challenges.
• Mental Health Awareness Session (Adults) Mental health awareness education session designed for adult populations.
• Conversations About Suicide Training program focused on facilitating conversations about suicide and supporting individuals at risk.
• Men's Meals and Mental Health Community-focused program combining meals with mental health support for men, including rural community events.
• Women's Wisdom and Wellbeing Wellbeing program designed for women, including rural community events.
• Camp Breakthrough Australia's first overnight mental health awareness camp for children in Years 5 to 8, delivered in partnership with AFL Max, combining physical activity, structured learning and open conversation.
• DBT-A (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents) Evidence-based group therapy program for adolescents with emotional dysregulation or borderline personality disorder traits, including support for carers.
• Online CBT-ED (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders) Online therapy platform for eating disorders based on the face-to-face 10-session CBT-ED protocol, with therapist guidance and adaptive treatment design.
• Telehealth Behavioural Activation Therapy for Parkinson's Disease Telehealth Behavioural Activation therapy program targeting symptoms of depression and apathy in Parkinson's Disease patients.
• A Safe Space Podcast Podcast series providing a safe space for conversations about mental health.
• Breakthrough's Car Conversation Mental health initiative focused on conversations about mental health.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% improvement in students feeling less embarrassed to start conversations about mental health after Camp Breakthrough
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AFL MaxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to deliver Camp Breakthrough, Australia's first overnight mental health awareness camp for children in Years 5-8, combining physical activity with mental health education.
• EldersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in rural mental health events initiative traveling to South Australian farming communities affected by drought.
• West EndflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate partner funding rural mental health events across South Australian drought-affected communities.
• Adelaide Football LeagueflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in rural mental health events initiative, integrating mental health awareness into football community.
• Flinders UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Primary research partner conducting mental health research on eating disorders, depression, youth mental health, and Parkinson's Disease. Researchers include Professor Phillip Slee, Professor Tracey Wade, Dr Stephanie Won, and Dr Monica Cations.
• Southern Youth Mental Health ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Clinical partner for DBT-A research program studying carer outcomes in adolescent mental health treatment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Movember Foundation: Global men's health charity funding mental health and suicide prevention programs. Overlaps with Breakthrough's men's mental health initiatives (Men's Meals and Mental Health) and rural community outreach model.
• Lifeline Australia: National crisis support and suicide prevention charity providing 24/7 phone counseling and community education. Overlaps with Breakthrough's Conversations About Suicide training and general public mental health awareness work.
• headspace: National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing clinical services and research for young Australians aged 12-25. Overlaps directly with Breakthrough's children's and youth mental health focus, including youth Mental Health First Aid training.
• Beyond Blue: Australia's largest mental health charity, funding research and running community awareness programs across depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Direct overlap with Breakthrough's mission and program mix, but at vastly larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Black Dog Institute: Australian medical research institute focused on mental health and mood disorders, affiliated with UNSW. Closely comparable model: combines research funding, digital interventions, and community education, similar to Breakthrough's Flinders partnership.
• The Hospital Research Foundation: South Australian health research charity that funds research projects including the Parkinson's Behavioral Activation program Breakthrough helped fund. Closely comparable funding model and SA geographic footprint.
• Orygen: Australia's leading youth mental health research and translation organization, focused on young people aged 12-25. Comparable research-to-program pipeline and youth focus area, especially relevant to Breakthrough's children's mental health and DBT-A programs.
• ReachOut Australia: Digital mental health service for young Australians providing online tools, peer support, and research-backed interventions. Closely comparable in its digital delivery (e.g., Online CBT-ED) and youth mental health focus.
• SANE Australia: National mental health charity advocating for Australians affected by complex mental health issues. Comparable charity-funded research, community education, and stigma-reduction programming model.
• Butterfly Foundation: Australian charity dedicated to supporting people affected by eating disorders and body image issues. Direct overlap with Breakthrough's eating disorders research focus and CBT-ED digital therapy program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8DdnUtWbUgTw7MENOhNQcg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BreakthroughMHR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breakthroughmhr
• Instagraminstagram.com/BreakthroughMHR
• Xx.com/breakthroughmhr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation