Healthy, Wealthy And Wise: The Long-term Effectiveness Of An Online Universal Program To Prevent Substance Use And Mental Health Problems Among Australian Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,472,709.00
Summary
The proposed study represents a unique opportunity to build on the NHMRC funded Climate Schools Combined (CSC) study, a world-first trial of a combined, internet-delivered school-based approach to preventing substance use, anxiety and depression. Having successfully implemented this trial and followed these students for 3 years, we propose to extend follow-up of this large trial cohort over the critical transition from secondary school into early adulthood.
I am a mental health researcher who designs and tests the effectiveness of methods to encourage help seeking, to intervene early and prevent the development of psychiatric disorders, and who develops technological tools to assist consumers to manage their
The Prevention Of Anxiety And Related Disorders: Long Term Follow-up Of Temperamentally At-risk Preschoolers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,476.00
Summary
Anxiety and related disorders such as depression provide a tremendous cost to the individual sufferer and to Australian society. While previous research has focussed on treatment of these conditions, little work has addressed the possibility of preventing these disorders before they interfere with an individual's life. There is growing evidence that children who are shy, withdrawn and inhibited at a very young age are more likely than other children to develop anxiety disorders in later childhoo ....Anxiety and related disorders such as depression provide a tremendous cost to the individual sufferer and to Australian society. While previous research has focussed on treatment of these conditions, little work has addressed the possibility of preventing these disorders before they interfere with an individual's life. There is growing evidence that children who are shy, withdrawn and inhibited at a very young age are more likely than other children to develop anxiety disorders in later childhood and a variety of related disorders in adulthood. In a previous NHMRC-funded grant, we have developed a brief parent education program to modify this personality style in young children. Early results are very promising and it appears that we have been able to help these withdrawn children to become more outgoing. This next proposal aims to follow these children over the coming years to see whether they are also less likely to develop mental health problems than children whose parents have not received the educational program are. We will be observing the children in a laboratory setting and at school at three, yearly intervals. At each point, we will compare withdrawn children whose parents have gone through the education program with those who haven't.Read moreRead less
Preventing Anxiety, Depression And Substance Use In Adolescents.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,709,988.00
Summary
Anxiety, depressive and substance use disorders account for three quarters of the disability attributed to mental disorders. Yet we have few models of well-implemented prevention programs for these common disorders. The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating an innovative internet-based approach to preventing mental health and substance use problems in Australian adolescents.
Improving Online Mental Health Programs: Tailored Assessment Meets Tailored Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$478,065.00
Summary
The proposed research will develop a personalised mental health program designed to address multiple mental health problems: major depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, and suicidality. The program will increase efficiency and user engagement by tailoring content based on individual needs, context and preferences. Ongoing monitoring using new methods of assessment will allow a responsive and flexible approach to care.
Influence Of A Brief Early Parent Intervention On Internalising Outcomes In Middle Adolescence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,955.00
Summary
Anxiety and depression are common problems that begin early and cause major life interference. There are currently few programs to prevent the development of these problems. We developed an early education program for parents of shy and withdrawn preschool children that showed promising effects when the children reached middle childhood. We are now seeking funds to follow these children into middle adolescence to see whether the program continues to benefit them during this vulnerable period.
Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Evaluation Of Childhood Anxiety And Depression: Pathways, Risk Factors And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,055.00
Summary
Anxiety and depression are the most common forms of psychological distress affecting Australian children today. These disorders are seriously disabling and continuous across time. Therefore, it is very important to understand more about the onset and course of these disorders, and about factors which influence these disorders in either a positive or negative manner. There are three major goals for the current project. The first is to further our understanding of the development, maintenance, and ....Anxiety and depression are the most common forms of psychological distress affecting Australian children today. These disorders are seriously disabling and continuous across time. Therefore, it is very important to understand more about the onset and course of these disorders, and about factors which influence these disorders in either a positive or negative manner. There are three major goals for the current project. The first is to further our understanding of the development, maintenance, and amelioration of anxiety and depression in a child and youth population. The second is to understand the relationship between these two disorders in children and youth. The third is to use the acquired information to assist in the identification of optimal ages for preventive interventions, and to aid in the matching of interventions to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children versus adolescents. This project aims to meet these goals through implementation of a controlled prevention trial. The aims fo the research are: 1. To examine the relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depresison in Australian children and youth 2. To gain valuable clinical information regarding the assessment and prevention of these disorders 3. To understand the risk and protective factors associated with these disorders, and the impact of these factors over time 4. To implement and evaluate a school-based prevention program The expected outcomes of the research are: 1. To acquire valuable information related to the onset and course of anxiety and depression in children and youth, and their associated risk and protective factors 2. To further development of more timely and targeted interventions for the prevention of anxiety and depression 4. To enhance the emotional resilience of participating children and prevent the onset of anxiety and depression 5. To promote Australian research by publishing the results of the project within the international research literatureRead moreRead less
Mental Health First Aid Training For Parents Of Teenagers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,638,775.00
Summary
Adolescence is a life period where mental disorders often have first onset. However, adolescents may not have the knowledge or life experience to take effective action if they affected by a mental health problem. Adolescents often turn to parents for support and advice if they develop a mental health problem. The aim of this project is to see whether parents who are trained in Mental Health First Aid respond more appropriately if their teenager develops a mental health problem.
Mental Health First Aid Training In The Workplace: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Online And Blended Modes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,247.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the effects of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, which aims to teach members of the public how to support people they know who are developing a mental health problem or are in a mental health crisis. Training will be offered to Victorian public servants to see whether it changes their knowledge, attitudes and helping behaviour. MHFA training will be delivered either online or as a blend of online with face-to-face teaching, and will be compared with online Red C ....This project will evaluate the effects of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, which aims to teach members of the public how to support people they know who are developing a mental health problem or are in a mental health crisis. Training will be offered to Victorian public servants to see whether it changes their knowledge, attitudes and helping behaviour. MHFA training will be delivered either online or as a blend of online with face-to-face teaching, and will be compared with online Red Cross physical first aid training as a control.Read moreRead less