Climate Change and Mental Health Research Stream

Overview

It has been well-documented that vulnerable populations (such as Indigenous peoples of Australia, and populations of low- and middle-income countries) are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress and/or mental illness. However, there are enormous gaps in our understanding of how to best address the dynamic impact of ethnicity, race, wealth and access to resources on mental illness and its determinants. By applying existing and developing innovative research methods, the research encompassed under this theme aims to reduce the burden of mental disorders in vulnerable populations by furthering our current understanding of the epidemiology, determinants and consequences of mental disorders, and improving the evidence-base for service delivery to these populations. It is intended that outputs generated from this research will inform policy and planning by improving prioritisation and distribution of health services for vulnerable populations.

This program of research is guided by mental health priorities identified both in Australia and on a global scale. This research will provide evidence to guide and inform the development of mental health services and policy necessary to increase treatment coverage and optimise quality of care. A specific focus of the work is to strengthen global research capacity, knowledge sharing, and leadership in the area of mental health.

Staff

Associate Professor Fiona Charlson

Stream LeaderClimate Change and Mental Health Research Stream Adjunct Associate ProfessorSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland Affiliate Assistant Professor of Health Metrics Sciences The University of Washington