Our Research
Centre Research Themes
- Theme 1: Severe mental illness diagnosis, treatment and support (major psychiatric disorders; age-related cognitive decline and dementia; high-risk cohorts including children, adolescents First Nations communities, men in rural environments etc.)
- Theme 2: Mental health and wellbeing for enhanced functioning across lifespan (neurodevelopmental and neurodiverse conditions; mental health literacy to foster early detection, reduce stigma and facilitate help-seeking; specific challenges in regional, rural and remote environments)
- Theme 3: Emerging issues and novel approaches to innovating in mental health practice (digital technology and artificial intelligence for enhanced diagnostics, telehealth and new models of care for treatments, and patient/ consumer engagement)
Currently Funded Projects
Competitive Research Grants - Round 1 2026
Seed Grants - Round 1 2026
Liza van Eijk, Katie Headrick, Margot Bosanquet, Anya Gordon, Pieta Shakes, Giovanna Iglesias
Families of infants requiring neonatal MRI often experience significant stress, anxiety, and uncertainty during a highly vulnerable postnatal period. This project will examine the psychological impacts and decision-making experiences of parents in North Queensland, where some families decline imaging despite potential clinical benefits. Through reimbursed parent participation and co-designed roundtable discussions with healthcare staff, we will identify how current MRI practices and timing influence parental distress, including both increased burden and potential reassurance through earlier detection and support. Findings will inform family-centred improvements to care, supporting better mental health outcomes for families and their infants.
Catherine de Hollander, Anthony Leicht, Jonathan Connor, Matthew Hiskens, Helen Anscomb, David Maiden
Families of infants requiring neonatal MRI often experience significant stress, anxiety, and uncertainty during a highly vulnerable postnatal period. This project will examine the psychological impacts and decision-making experiences of parents in North Queensland, where some families decline imaging despite potential clinical benefits. Through reimbursed parent participation and co-designed roundtable discussions with healthcare staff, we will identify how current MRI practices and timing influence parental distress, including both increased burden and potential reassurance through earlier detection and support. Findings will inform family-centred improvements to care, supporting better mental health outcomes for families and their infants.
Marc Chao, Wendy Li, Josephine Pryce, Timothy Leow, Fanny Yeung
This pilot study adapts an 8-week mindfulness program to support mental health and enhance a sense of control among regional Australian older adults experiencing psychological distress. Older adults frequently report a diminished sense of control, which exacerbates anxiety and depression. Participants will engage in guided mindfulness and structured inquiries to better recognise controllable versus uncontrollable life domains. This project evaluates if the intervention successfully reduces distress and strengthens personal agency, providing critical pilot data to leverage significant future funding applications for regional mental health care.
Sam Teague, Adrian Shatte, Daniel Miller, Klaire Somoray, Brian Law, Kristiana Pederick
This project will develop and pilot an AI-driven tool to objectively measure the pacing characteristics of YouTube content viewed by preschool-aged children in regional, rural, and remote Australia. Using parent-provided viewing histories and computational video analysis, the study will examine whether exposure to rapidly paced digital content represents a modifiable mechanism linking digital media use and child mental health outcomes. The project advances scalable, content-level measurement of digital exposure beyond crude “screen time” metrics, addressing a rapidly escalating global challenge as governments and health systems seek evidence to understand and prevent mental health harms associated with children’s digital media environments.
Daniel Miller, Amanda Krause, Navjot Bhullar, Debra Rickwood, Vidula Garde, Monique Du'cane, Abdul-Aziz Seidu
This project will generate contemporary, North Queensland-specific normative data for two widely used mental health screening instruments (K10 and DASS-21). Using a three-sample design comprising community members recruited via an online panel, headspace clients, and Townsville University Hospital inpatients, we will establish known-groups validity by comparing distress profiles across clinical and non-clinical populations. The project also examines help-seeking behaviours and service use to understand how distress levels relate to mental health needs and available supports. Findings will inform regional mental health service planning and provide pilot data for future large-scale funding applications.
Donna Rudd, Liza van Eijk, Cassandra Wannan, Toni Merritt, Bruce Tonge, Christos Pantelis, Yoga Kandasamy, Rachel Hill, Suresh Sundram, Helena McInnes
Early life stress and pregnancy complications can influence brain development and later mental health, but
reliable ways to identify children at risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at birth are lacking. This
project will develop and validate a non-invasive cord blood screening panel, combined with maternal and birth
information, to identify children at risk. Using an existing regional birth cohort in North Queensland, we will
link biological markers of stress, inflammation, metabolism and hypoxia with early childhood outcomes. Early
identification will support timely referral to intervention services, improving long-term developmental and
mental health outcomes for children in regional and rural communities.
Richard Violette, Catherine Season, Shaun Solomon, Rory Busch, Katlin Daley
Indigenous men/fathers face intersecting challenges to their mental health and cultural, social, and emotional wellbeing (CSEWB). Risk factors like trauma, situational violence, and justice system involvement, combined with limited access to culturally appropriate and gender-specific mental health/CSEWB services and supports, further compound these challenges and increase the risk for crisis presentations. Despite strong evidence for holistic, strengths-based, and father-inclusive approaches, current systems of care struggle to respond to men/fathers’ specific CSEWB needs. This project will a) service map the existing ecosystem of CSEWB care, and b) engage with lived/living experience to identify CSEWB priorities to generate foundational evidence to inform the development of a holistic Men’s Place in Mount Isa.
Seed Grants - Round 1 2025
James Dimmock, Kalia Putter, Sam Teague, Brian Law, Amanda Krause, Ben Jackson, Jessica Borelli, Christina Rowley, Cate Nagle, Cara McCormach, Zoe Cunningham
The Bamboo Parenting Program is an online social support program for first-time mothers in the perinatal period. The program has been designed to prevent and reduce mental illness during this vulnerable period, and by leveraging social support, Bamboo targets one of the most significant predictors of mental health for perinatal women. The program pairs first-time mothers with volunteer mothers or with mother-nominated individuals, with support training provided in program. Pairs work together to navigate the critical and difficult perinatal period. Funding from this seed fund will contribute to the evaluation of a pilot randomised trial in Northern Queensland.
Liza van Eijk, Beena Suvarna, Gideon Vos, Donna Rudd, Mostafa Azghadi, Carlo Longhitano
This project aims to predict the chance of developing mental health conditions by enabling early detection and objective measurement of symptoms severity. A novel neurophysiological AI prediction model will be applied to calculate a risk score based on brain activity (EEG), autonomic responses (wearable devices), and stress hormone levels. This approach overcomes limitations of traditional methods, which tend to rely on subjective self-reports and time-consuming clinical assessments. Our prediction model would enable objective detection of high-risk patterns for mental health conditions, thus allowing targeted early intervention, monitoring, and early adjustments to treatment plans, potentially reducing current high drop-out rates.
Wendy Li, Marc Chao, Mercy Singleton, Josephine Pryce, Timothy Leow, Omer Shareef, Xue Jaing
This project aims to co-design a group-based mindfulness intervention to support mental health in communities affected by climate change. Using participatory co-design workshops and the Delphi method, we will collaborate with individuals with lived experience, health professionals, and community members to develop an inclusive and culturally responsive Mindfulness-Based Climate Stress Reduction (MBCSR) program. The co-design process will ensure the intervention is relevant, acceptable, and grounded in real-world needs. Findings will lay the foundation for future large-scale trials and support the development of accessible, evidence-informed strategies to reduce psychological distress in regional, rural, and remote communities impacted by climate-related stress.
Kelsey Lowrie, Tanya Doyle, Rebecca Evans, Lee Town
This project explores the importance of early development, intervention, and a life course approach to student wellbeing, noting policy imperatives and gaps in evidence around best practices for system integration. It investigates how health and education leaders collaborate to support vulnerable children in North Queensland, using a case study method to capture regional insights. The goal is to inform policy and practice by showcasing novel integration of systems and supports, increasing visibility of local services, and guiding school-based and systemic reform. Findings will contribute to evidence-informed decision making and innovative approaches to integrated service delivery for improved student outcomes.
Alyssia Merrick, Daniel Miller, Amanda Krause, Dylan Eberle, Hyacinth Udah, Tanya Park
This study explores whether tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) can be effectively leveraged to support mental health. By examining how different ways of engaging with D&D influence players’ experiences, the study will elucidate what aspects of the game are most beneficial to players—for instance, character creation or simply being part of a shared narrative—and why that matters. These insights will inform how games like D&D are used in the mental health space and how their designs can be tailored to support social connection, motivation, and personal growth.
Tingzhen Chen, Heri Setiyorini, Tina Dahlan, Johanna Kodoatie
This research investigates how diaspora tourism (the act of returning to one’s homeland) affects mental health literacy and psychological well-being among Indonesian migrants in North Queensland, Australia. Combining survey data and in-depth interviews, the project aims to generate evidence on the therapeutic role of cultural reconnection and deliver recommendations for multicultural health organizations to improve mental health support within Indonesian-Australian communities, particularly in the regional area of Australia (North Queensland).
Kris McBain-Rigg, Richard Violette, Shaun Solomon, Catherine Seaton, Stephanie King
The Ways Remote Communities Care explores how the community of Mount Isa engages in healing and wellbeing through shared experiences and care practices. Partnering with local organisations, the project examines how community groups foster healthy and mentally well communities. We will map the work and linkages between existing community groups, successes and challenges, and collect stories of care work in the community. This will culminate in the community creating their Community Resilience Score. This interdisciplinary initiative aims to generate pilot data and narratives that inform future research and funding applications focused on trauma, precarity, and collective healing.
Klaire Somoray, Sam Teague, Ignacio Correa-Velez, Tra Nguyen, Lisa Shaw
This project aims to promote and improve the mental health and wellbeing of refugee and migrant communities in Townsville through a community-driven approach. In partnership with the Townsville Multicultural Support Group (TMSG), we will integrate mental health literacy workshops into a community garden program, creating a safe, culturally appropriate space for connection, learning, and support. Findings will guide future whole-of-community initiatives and support larger funding applications to expand mental health promotion for culturally diverse communities.
Joanna Barlas, Michelle Tan
This study investigates how Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is assessed and diagnosed by clinicians in Singapore, where practices are thought to vary widely and little is known about local influences on diagnosis. Using a mixed-methods (quant–QUAL) approach, it will survey and interview clinicians across public and private settings to understand their current tools, rationale, and challenges. The project seeks to identify whether standardised practices exist and to inform more consistent, evidence-based approaches. Conducted in collaboration with Dr Michelle Tan at IMH, the study draws on a multidisciplinary team to address critical gaps in BPD diagnosis and care in Singapore.
Amanda Krause, Sandra Garrido, Matt O’Leary, Tanya Park, Teneale McGuckin, Hannah Taylor, Nikki Rickard, Lawrence Harvey
Stigma prevents many people from seeking mental health support; however, positive music listening experiences buffer the impact of stigma on help-seeking. Recent research suggests that community-based, focused listening experiences have real potential for improving well-being, but research is needed to understand their explicit short- and longer-term impact on stress and anxiety. This case study examines the impact of participating in communal, high-fidelity, and immersive music listening sessions on people’s mental health. Expected outcomes include partnering with a community organisation to obtain and disseminate evidence relating to substantiating the mechanisms underpinning the well-being benefits of focused and immersive music listening.