History

Helping Minds began in Western Australia on 20 July 1976. At the time, John Meharry (now deceased), Executive Officer of WAAMH, recognised the need for a dedicated association to support families and friends of people living with mental ill-health. A public meeting was organised and the Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill was formed—later becoming known as ARARMI.

From those early beginnings, we have grown from a carer support organisation into a contemporary provider of education, services, and programs that support carers, individuals, and communities across Western Australia.

Today, our work spans:

• Mental health education for schools, workplaces, and the community
• Recovery College, helping students build knowledge, confidence, and practical tools for everyday life
• Individualised psychosocial support
• Early intervention programs for young people in selected locations
• Mental health carer support, including advocacy, counselling, peer support, respite, groups, workshops, and programs for young carers
• Carer Gateway services in WA’s South West and Mid West, supporting carers with registration and planning support

In 2016, as we marked 40 years, we became Helping Minds. Now, in our 50th year (2026), we’ve refreshed our branding to reflect who we are today and the breadth of support we provide.