A quarter of a century working to improve nursing practices for mental health patients has earned Canberran Kim Ryan the first-ever Australian Mental Health Prize.
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Ms Ryan was presented the award on Wednesday night by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, in recognition of her tireless efforts advocating for mental health nurses.
The chief executive of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Ms Ryan said she was fortunate to work with some "incredible people" and felt exceptionally proud to represent the profession.
"To have been selected from such a high calibre group of finalists is very humbling," she said.
"Mental health is not just the domain of mental health nurses.
"We are experiencing increasing rates of mental illness, chronic disease and co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, so it's absolutely crucial that all health professionals take a more holistic and integrated approach, and increase their confidence in being able to help."
Chairwoman of the prize advisory group, Ita Buttrose, said Ms Ryan's work had demonstrated the "enormous difference" that specially-trained mental health nurses could have in the recovery of people with mental health illnesses.
Ms Ryan was one of seven finalists selected from 130 submissions of people for the inaugural prize.
