September 2023 | Issue 3

Flinders University Institute for Mental Health & Wellbeing September eNews

From the Director

It has been a productive time over the last year as we have developed and embedded our new name, look, and research themes across the Institute. Our website is currently undergoing a major upgrade as we add a focus on the impact of our research in the community. These stories highlight the real-world impact of our research and life-changing effect it can have on people’s lives.

Over the coming months we will be investigating a Community of Practice model for our research pillars with plans to run a pilot program in early 2024. A Community of Practice involves groups of people informally bound together by shared expertise and passion for a shared enterprise, and who communicate regularly to share their experiences and knowledge in free-flowing and creative ways that foster new approaches to problems. The members engage in reciprocal conversations from research, clinical, lived experience and philanthropic perspectives that will inform the research agenda. This is a model used around the world – see 'What is a Community of Practice' for more information. Please contact us if you would like to be involved in setting up this exciting and meaningful program.

We are also excited to expand the reach of our research to include a new research pillar  'Improving social wellbeing of the community'. This pillar brings in new members from across social psychology and social work (including SWIRLS) and provides important benefit to the Institute in terms of broadening our perspective on wellbeing. Contact us if you would like to know more about our new research pillar or would like information on becoming an Institute member.

Professor Tracey Wade
Director, Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing

What makes us different? | Recording now available

Hear from Institute Director, Professor Tracey Wade about how the Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing is making a difference in our new video.

Professor Phillip Slee and Associate Professor Shane Pill also discuss how the Big Talks for Little People program is helping in the early prevention and detection of mental health and wellbeing issues in young people, and will soon be incorporated into sport and physical education settings. This initiative has been created in partnership with the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and the Little Heroes Foundation.

Congratulations to our award winning researchers!

Spotlight on some of our current research

Solutions for circumventing eating disorder waitlists

An online treatment program has the capacity to help adolescents with anorexia nervosa, focusing on shifting thinking styles that reduce barriers to effective treatment.

Flinders University Senior Lecturer in Psychology and clinical psychologist Dr Ryan Balzan has overseen trials which demonstrate that metacognitive training for eating disorders (MCT-ED) can be a feasible adjunct intervention for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

New trauma research partnership to Rely on

A new Flinders University industry partnership will consider how to best help people feel they can safely disclose traumatic events such as discrimination, bullying and harassment in a compassionate way.

The partnership with Melbourne-based technology company Rely utilises the company’s intelligent SaaS incident management system, which is designed to help organisations prevent, detect and respond to a range of workplace issues, from minor incidents through to serious misconduct.

The real cost of serving for your country

There is an urgent need for cultural reform within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to address their systemic failures and misconduct, and for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to provide better support to veterans, says Institute member and Director of Open Door Initiative, Professor Ben Wadham.

A new report ‘Mapping Service and Transition to Self-Harm and Suicidality’ has made 18 recommendations to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on how to better protect male and female ex-service members from self-harm and suicide.

“Data on self-harm and suicide among ex-service members shows that both male and female ex-service members are more likely to take their lives than members of the general population,” says lead author Professor Ben Wadham.

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