Early Life Influences On Child And Adolescent Mental Health Problems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
Many children experience mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, causing emotional pain for families and a huge economic cost for society. I aim to prevent these problems before they start. By identifying influences in a pregnant woman’s environment that might lead to mental health problems in her child, such as stress, fertility problems and environmental dangers, we can target these influences early and build positive mental health for children right from the very start of life.
Back In The Game: Helping People Successfully Transition Back To Sport And Active Recreation After Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,916.00
Summary
Physical inactivity costs the Australian community over $1.5 billion every year. More than half of Australian adults do not do enough activity, so promoting life-long participation is a critical public health priority. Many people who are injured while playing sport do not return to their preinjury participation even though they are physically recovered. This project will test the effectiveness of a web-based toolkit in helping people make the transition back to physical activity after injury
Almost every member of clinical staff in hospitals now carries a smartphone or tablet. These devices can improve staff performance when life-saving information such as reminders of complex procedures during medical emergencies are delivered in a clear way. This fellowship applies design processes used in other high-risk industries such as in military and nuclear power settings to devise ‘e-aids’ for clinicians to improve outcomes in health emergencies.
Emotions, Situation Awareness And The Risky Driving Behaviour Of Young Novice Drivers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
Young novice drivers have been overrepresented in the road crash fatality and injury statistics in motorised countries around the world for decades. A critical knowledge gap underpinning this is a failure to consider the role that emotion plays in young driver behaviour. The aim of this innovative research is to radically improve young driver road safety by clarifying and optimally managing the impact of young drivers' emotions upon their situation awareness.
Following bereavement, 10%-15% of people suffer prolonged grief (PG) that can cause mental and physical problems for many years. This project will study community and treatment-seeking samples of bereaved people to identify trajectories of grieving, predictors of responding across time, and identify mechanisms of change in treatment of PG. This project represents a significant advance in our understanding of PG and will help reduce the burden of this condition.
A Prospective Study Of Familial Psychological Adjustment And Service Needs On Completion Of Childhood Cancer Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,041.00
Summary
Up to 80% of children with cancer survive into adulthood, yet little research has explored the needs of children and their families when a child completes cancer treatment. This project will describe these needs, and plot distress and resilience in families in the first 12 months after cancer treatment ends. The study will identify predictors of positive and negative outcomes after treatment and develop an intervention to reduce distress and enhance resilience in families after childhood cancer.
Evidence Based Mental Health Treatments In Cardiovascular Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,132.00
Summary
Mental health is known to affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) prognosis, though effective treatments are lacking. The aims of this project are to to determine which mental health interventions are most effective in assisting CVD patients, and then perform such a mental health intervention. The findings will lead to improved guidelines for management of complex mental health needs in Australian CVD patients.
Cognitive Factors In Youth That Increase Vulnerability To Social Phobia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,976.00
Summary
I am a psychologist focused on identifying the patterns of thinking of young people that make them vulnerable to developing a chronic and debilitating anxiety disorder known as social phobia. To do this, I will measure a range of thinking patterns of a sample of youth over time, and see which patterns are characteristic of those individuals who do develop social phobia. By identifying these particular thinking patterns, we will be able to identify youth who need preventative interventions.
Practical Application Of Culturally Appropriate Cognitive And Psychological Assesments For Indigneous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
Recently screening tools for assessing brain function and mental health have been developed that were found useful for detecting substance abuse related impairments in Indigenous Australians. The proposed research will focus on investigating the wider practical applications of these tools in Indigenous populations, as well as developing a process for making the tools available for use in primary care practice.