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Child and Youth Mental Health Research Stream

Child and Youth Mental Health Research Stream

Improving the mental health of young people

In high-income countries like Australia, mental disorders are the leading cause of disease burden in people aged under 25 years.

Led by Professor James Scott from his position at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the Child and Youth Mental Health Research Group aims to improve the health and wellbeing of young Australians and reduce the burden of illness that accompanies mental disorders.

Research focus areas

The groups’ research traverses four focus areas:

  1. The study of the patterns, causes, and effects of mental disorders.
  2. Identification of factors that influence mental health problems in childhood and adolescence. Addressing these influences, such as bullying in schools (traditional and cyberbullying) and maltreatment in childhood, is arguably the most effective way to prevent the onset of mental disorders.
  3. The third area is neuroimmunology. Research in this area studies the interplay between the nervous system and the immune system. It has become increasingly apparent that some cases of psychosis and depression arise from inflammation in the central nervous system.
  4. A program of clinical trials, known as the Cadence Trials, aims to evaluate safe and innovative treatments for young people with psychosis.
Successes

In the past five years, the child and youth mental health research program has been awarded more than $5million in competitive grant funding resulting in more than one hundred publications. This substantial body of clinical and public health research has made an important impact on the lives of young people experiencing mental health problems.

Projects

We have a range of projects being undertaken below.

Staff

Professor James Scott

Head
Child and Youth Mental Health Research Stream

Child and Youth Psychiatrist and Director of the Early Psychosis Service
Metro North Mental Health Service

Honorary Professor
UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland



Dr Hannah Thomas

Research Fellow
Child and Youth Mental Health Research Stream

Research Officer
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Honorary Fellow
School of Public Health, The University of Queensland



Dr Gemma McKeon

Advanced Pschologist Researcher
Child and Youth Mental Health Research Stream

Academic Title Holder - Lecturer
Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland



Julie Blake

Research Fellow
Child and Youth Mental Health Research Stream

PhD Student
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research

 

 


Contact us

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HEAD OFFICE

Level 3, Dawson House
The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment
Research and Education, Wacol, QLD 4076
P: +61 7 3271 8660

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands in which QCMHR operates and their continuing connections to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and stand together with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.