Mental health research star wins international epidemiology award
A high-flyer from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) was awarded the prestigious Michele Tansella Award last October at the meeting of the World Psychiatric Association’s Epidemiology and Public Health Section.
Associate Professor Holly Erskine was granted the award of 2,000 Euros for publishing an outstanding study, as first author, in a leading international journal before turning 40 years of age.
Associate Professor Erskine, who leads The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Epidemiology and Service (CAPES) at QCMHR, impressed the panel with her publication of outcomes from the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys (NAMHS) in the 27 April–3 May Issue of The Lancet.
Associate Professor Erskine said she was thrilled to win the award and remotely presented a Plenary Lecture on October 11, titled: The prevalence of mental disorders, suicidal behaviours, and self-harm among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Methodology and key findings from the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys (NAMHS).
“I’m delighted to receive this award and for the hard work of the dedicated international team to be recognised in such a forum” Associate Professor Erskine said.
“It was a privilege to lead NAMHS and to work with teams across five countries to conduct surveys involving thousands of adolescents and their primary caregivers in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
“Given that we conducted the study during the COVID-19 pandemic, our teams faced huge unforeseen challenges in addition to the already ambitious goal of conducting three national surveys in parallel.
“However, the grit, goodwill, and commitment of everyone involved meant that we were able to complete the study and measure the prevalence of mental disorders for adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam on a national scale for the first time.”
Professor Michele Tansella was a pioneer in the field of epidemiological psychiatry and mental health service evaluation and contributed to these fields as a distinguished scientist throughout his life.
Associate Professor Erskine said she was honoured to carry on his legacy of contribution to psychiatric epidemiology.
“Over his distinguished, 40-year career, Professor Tansella contributed so much to the field of psychiatric epidemiology through his research, training of mental health professionals, and founding of the Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences journal,” Associate Professor Erskine said.
“I am honoured to be a part of the Award’s legacy, particularly given Prof Tansella’s extraordinary contribution to the field and his influence on those who have mentored me throughout my career.”
Established in 1987, QCMHR is funded by Queensland Health to work state-wide and contribute to the local, national, and global research efforts to improve mental health.