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Research
Strengthening student social and emotional wellbeing and preventing bullying behaviours: Insights from 20 years of Friendly Schools research in Australian schools.Strong evidence supports our current understandings of student bullying behaviours and ways schools can prevent and respond effectively to bullying behaviour. In the late 1990’s, however, little was understood about the most effective ways to reduce bullying in Australian schools. In response to schools’ need for evidence-informed action, a pipeline of research called Friendly Schools was initiated in 1999 which for the past twenty years, has provided robust whole-school evidence-based knowledge and skills to support policy makers, school staff and other practitioners working in schools and families across Australia.
News & Events
World-class mental health researcher to join The Kids Research Institute AustraliaThe Kids Research Institute Australia warmly welcomes youth mental health researcher Associate Professor Kathryn Modecki.
News & Events
Poor access to mental health services linked to suicide hotspots: studyCommunities with poor access to mental health services are eight times more likely to be youth suicide hotspots, according to new The Kids Research Institute Australia research.
Research
Protective factors, risk factors, and intervention strategies in the prevention and reduction of crime among adolescents and young adults aged 12–24 years: A scoping review protocolEvidence indicates that criminal behaviour in youth is linked with a range of negative physical, mental, and social health consequences. Despite a global decrease over the last 30 years, youth crime remains prevalent.
Research
Sexualized Images on Social Media and Adolescent Girls’ Mental Health: Qualitative Insights from Parents, School Support Service Staff and Youth Mental Health Service ProvidersThis research explored adults' perceptions of how sexualized images typically found on social media might influence adolescent girls' mental health, what support girls might need should they experience mental health difficulties, and how such difficulties could be prevented or reduced.
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Combining Clinical With Cognitive or Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data for Predicting Transition to Psychosis in Ultra High-Risk Patients: Data From the PACE 400 CohortMultimodal modeling that combines biological and clinical data shows promise in predicting transition to psychosis in individuals who are at ultra-high risk. Individuals who transition to psychosis are known to have deficits at baseline in cognitive function and reductions in gray matter volume in multiple brain regions identified by magnetic resonance imaging.
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Trauma-informed prevention programmes for depression, anxiety, and substance use among young people: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic reviewMental ill-health and substance use bear a substantial burden and harm on young people and often arise from co-occurring and compounding risk factors, such as traumatic stress. Trauma-informed prevention of mental ill-health and substance use demonstrates significant promise in reducing this burden.
Research
Reach and perceived effectiveness of a community-led active outreach postvention intervention for people bereaved by suicidePostvention is a core component of suicide prevention strategies, internationally. However, the types of supports provided to people impacted by suicide vary widely. This study examines the perceived effectiveness of the Primary Care Navigator (PCN) model for people bereaved by suicide. The PCN model was implemented in response to a suicide cluster.
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Contextualising Experiences of Co-Occurring Mental Ill-Health and Substance Use Among Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Young People: Implications for Tailored Harm Reduction ApproachesThough significant research highlights higher rates of mental ill-health and substance use among trans, non-binary and gender diverse (henceforth 'trans') young people, little research has considered patterns, contextual characteristics, and correlates of co-occurring experiences of mental ill-health and substance use among trans young people.
Research
Skill Enactment Among University Students Using a Brief Video-Based Mental Health Intervention: Mixed Methods Study Within a Randomized Controlled TrialMental health problems are common among university students, yet many students do not seek professional help. Digital mental health interventions can increase students' access to support and have been shown to be effective in preventing and treating mental health problems. However, little is known about the extent to which students implement therapeutic skills from these programs in everyday life (ie, skill enactment) or about the impact of skill enactment on outcomes.