The Macquarie University Lifespan Health
and Wellbeing Research Centre
Newsletter  

In this edition, we are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our members who have been recognised across various awards for their exceptional contributions to research in health and wellbeing. 

Discover new insights into dementia prevention, early intervention mental health tools, and ways you can get involved in our research, including participating in our Consumer Engagement Network. This is a fantastic way to make a meaningful impact on the future of mental health care.

We hope you enjoy reading about the latest developments and achievements at the Centre!

Congratulations 

• Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee was named the leading researcher in Australia in Child and Adolescent Psychology in The Australian Research Magazine. 

• A/Prof Jonas Fooken was recognised as a leader in the field of Game Theory and Decision Science in The Australian Research Magazine.

• Early Childhood Education team was recognised as the Leading Research Institution in Early Childhood Education in The Australian Research Magazine.

• Prof Viviana Wuthrich was awarded the Australian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Mid-Career Award 2024.

• Dr Madelyne Bisby was awarded the Australian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Early Career Award 2024. 

• Dr Jessamine Chen won the Helen Bartlett Prize for Innovation in Ageing Research at this year’s Conference of Emerging Researchers.

• Prof Viviana Wuthrich was invited as an expert witness into the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Prevalence, Causes and Impacts of Loneliness in New South Wales.

• Dr Madelyne Bisby was awarded the Australian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Early Career Award 2024. 

• Dr Fran Doyle was successful in the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) 2025 round. This project aims to discover how emotional reactivity develops in early childhood. Using psychological and physiological assessment techniques, the research will advance our understanding of the role of child and parental emotional reactivity in the development of empathy and aggression in childhood.

• Dr Anam Bilgrami was successful in her Macquarie University Research Fellowship application. Her project is titled: “Navigating Australian Students’ Wellbeing: Evaluating Preferences and Policy Impacts in School Mental Health Initiatives”.

• Dr Diana Tang for her successful Macquarie University Research Fellowship project titled 'Co-Designing a Wellbeing Program for Older Adults with Dual Sensory Impairment.’

• Prof Kerry Sherman and Prof Rebecca Mitchell were invited to provide expert evidence to the Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into menopause and perimenopause.

• Dr Diana Matovic was awarded the Macquarie University ECR Enabling Scheme grant for a project on understanding the mechanisms underlying positive information processing in older adults. This application was ranked as the top application in one of the two Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences Assessment Panels.

• Dr Diana Matovic was awarded the Australian Association of Gerontology Student and Early Career Group Helen Barrie National (publication) Prize for 2023-2024.

• Prof Bamini Gopinath and Dr Diana Tang for receiving an ARC Linkage Project titled ‘A Digital Literacy Program Empowering Seniors with Sensory Loss’.

• Dr Alana Fisher won the consumer led research award at the Society for Mental Health Research conference.

• Dr Johnathan David (supervised by Centre members Dr Melissa Norberg and A/Prof Miri Forbes) won the APS Award for Excellent PhD Thesis in Psychology.

Community engagement

Rotary Clubs of North Ryde Changeover Dinner

Each year the Rotary Club of North Ryde holds an eFunRun to raise donations for child and youth mental health programs. This year the Club raised $5,450 to enable disadvantaged families to receive free Cool Kids Anxiety Program treatment through the Emotional Health Clinic. This donation was presented at the Rotary Club of North Rydes Changeover Dinner.

A small donation can make a huge difference
With your help, we can develop and provide programs for change, promoting healthier and happier families, people and communities. Find out ways to support our work.

Ageing Wisely: Maintaining Mental Health and Social Connections in Later Life (睿智晚年:保持心理健康與社交)

Dr Jessamine Chen presented a community talk on the importance of maintaining mental health and social connections in older adulthood to Chinese-speaking members of the Eastwood Chinese Senior Citizens Club.

Let’s Talk about OCD Webinar

As part of Mental Health Month, Wayahead hosted a webinar with Centre Member Professor Melissa Norberg. Professor Norberg shared her insights about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and individuals with lived experiences shared their stories and personal insights into living with OCD.

Invited MQ internal talk, AIHI ECR Lunch Club: Mental Health and Wellbeing for ECRs

Associate Professor Milena Gandy and Dr Andreea Heriseanu explored common challenges faced by early-career researchers that negatively affect mental health, and provided provided tips on managing these challenges and prioritising well-being in academia.

Loneliness, Social Isolation and Chronic Disease Research Symposium hosted by Monash University

Dr Jessamine Chen represented one of our research teams, led by Prof Viviana Wuthrich, at the Loneliness, Social Isolation and Chronic Disease Research Symposium hosted by Monash University.

Dr Chen shared the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded project on targeting the mechanisms of loneliness in chronic conditions. The team is conducting research to better understand the mechanism of action underlying the bidirectional relationships between loneliness, social isolation, and chronic conditions in older adults.

Webinars and event highlights

Catch up on the Centre's webinars via our website and scroll down to explore some of the highlights from this year.

Early Childhood Educator Wellbeing Intervention Co-design Workshop

Early childhood researcher and Executive Member of the Research Centre, Professor Sandie Wong co-leads the multidisciplinary research team investigating early childhood educators’ wellbeing and its links with educators’ interactions with children.

The Early Childhood Educator Wellbeing Project team held a very successful stakeholder and Macquarie University multi-disciplinary staff co-design day on October 11. Facilitated by Lifespan Research Centre's Co-Deputy Director Lauren McLellan, the day illustrated consilience at work, with over 40 attendees from providing expert feedback and input to a proposed educators’ wellbeing intervention design for our Australian context.

Those who attended appreciated working towards a common goal, having robust discussions and hearing different perspectives across the early childhood education and care landscape. The inclusion of cross-disciplinary knowledge also enhanced the conversations and ideas. As one participant noted “It was a valuable day of transdisciplinary, knowledgeable and robust discussion and co-design.”

Professor Sandie Wong

Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre Annual Conference 
The Centre held its 2024 conference recently, with 24 research presentations covering topics including treating depression and anxiety in later life, a new mental health check tool for school students, an online cognitive behavioural therapy program for insomnia, suicide prevention, and chronic pain management.

Award Winners
Dr Amelia Scott won the Early Career Research (ECR) Award for her talk on Digital CBTi for insomnia: an overview of treatment elements and results in an inclusive pilot trial. Dr Scott also presented her recent trial at the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) National Conference. 

Dr Joanne Dudeney won the Rapid Presentation Award for her talk on why we need to consider mental health when treating youth with chronic pain.

Sophie Dickson won the Student Award for the second year running - Sophie presented on the Impact of Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders on Functioning: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis.

Dr Amelia Scott, Dr Joanne Dudeney and Sophie Dickson

Nature and Treatment of Paediatric Anxiety Disorder: Overview of characteristics and risk

Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee provides a general overview and introduction to anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. He explores the general characteristics of anxiety, including diagnostic criteria, their impact on life, and factors that confer risk and maintain anxiety disorders. Professor Rapee emphasizes the profound influence these disorders have on the daily lives of young individuals, affecting educational and social domains, and discusses the potential for long-term effects leading to anxiety, depression, and substance abuse in adulthood. Shedding light on these crucial issues, Professor Rapee aims to pave the way for greater understanding, early intervention, and improved outcomes for the youngest generation, underscoring the importance of addressing these disorders promptly and effectively. Watch the recording.

Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee

Mental Health Month Public Lecture
Our 14th annual Mental Health Month Public Lecture discusses advancing mental health care in people living with neurological disorders and the psychological toll of living with Endometriosis. Watch the lecture. 

Social connections in older adulthood: Barriers and facilitators
A symposium exploring social connections for healthy brain ageing, and barriers and enablers of social participation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia and their older adult carers or supporters. Watch the symposium. 

Cool Little Kids Anxiety Program
A webinar discussing the signs of anxiety in pre-schoolers and how best to equip yourself with both knowledge and practical skills for how to help children manage and overcome anxiety. Watch the webinar. 

Help your teen cope with Year 11 and 12 study stress
Throughout this webinar Dr Jessica Belcher draws on current research to explore why students feel stressed, what stress might look like, and when parents need to worry about their teen’s stress. Jessica also provided some helpful tips on what parents can do to help their teens manage stress throughout their final years of high school. Watch the webinar.

Consumer Network Advisory Event 
We are excited to share that we recently held our first Consumer Advisory Committee event. This gathering provided an opportunity for consumers to learn more about our current projects, share valuable feedback, and explore ideas for future collaboration.

Research news and key updates

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Impairment and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders

This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by a team of Lifespan researchers led by PhD student Sophie Dickson. The review aimed  to determine the extent of impairments in functioning and quality of life that young people with anxiety disorders experience relative to their healthy peers, as well as sociodemographic and clinical moderators of these relationships.

Read the full article.

A new approach to diagnosis and classification of mental illness

Centre member Miri Forbes recently had a paper published on her work to improve the diagnosis and classification of mental illness, which received coverage in the Lighthouse, some podcasts, and a popular psychiatry blog.

This study suggests that instead of relying on the ‘bible’ of mental health diagnosis, we need a data-driven approach based on the ways symptoms naturally co-occur, and researchers say this approach could have major implications for future treatment options.

Read the Lighthouse article and the research paper.
Listen to Associate Professor Forbes's podcast episodes: Under the Cortex and A Therapist Can't Say That. 

Associate Professor Miri Forbes

Older people still benefiting 10 years after treatment for depression and anxiety

A groundbreaking study has found people aged 65 and older can experience long-term benefits from treatment for depression and anxiety, even in the face of new stressors such as the death of a spouse.

Ageing Wisely is a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program for managing anxiety and/or depression in older adults. Ageing Wisely has been shown to be effective for reducing anxiety and depression in older adults in multiple clinical trials.

In the last edition, we profiled a long-term follow-up study of the people who were treated with this program 10 years ago as part of a randomised clinical trial to see whether the benefits last in the long term.

This is the first study to show that CBT has long-lasting benefits for older adults. 

Read more about this story in The Lighthouse.

Associate Professor Carly Johnco

The influence of traffic lights presentation of dementia risk screening information on older adults’ motivations for risk reduction in primary care settings

A recent study published in Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders examines how 'traffic light' nutritional labels - using red, amber, and green indicators - affect food choices among older adults experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The research found that these intuitive labels significantly aid individuals with SCD in selecting healthier food options, suggesting that such labelling can be an effective tool in promoting better dietary habits within this demographic. Implementing traffic light labels could support older adults in making more informed nutritional decisions, potentially enhancing their overall health and well-being. Read more here. 

Illness invalidation and psychological distress in adults with chronic physical health symptoms

This study, involving over 1,600 adults, shows that invalidation—when symptoms are dismissed or misunderstood by family, partners, or medical professionals—uniquely contributes to psychological distress. Read the full article.

Associate Professor Milena Gandy and Thomas Woldhuis

Ageing Wisely: Advancing Older Adult Mental Health Care

This is the second documentary in a collaboration between the Lifespan Health & Wellbeing Research Centre and the Macquarie University Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language, and Literature.

This documentary explores a clinician's perspective on treating anxiety and depression in older adults, highlighting the critical need to enhance mental health care for healthy ageing and better quality of life.

"Ageing Wisely: Advancing Older Adult Mental Health Care" sheds light on the unique challenges older adults face in managing their mental health and breaks down common misconceptions about mental health in later life. Watch the short documentary.

Ageing Wisely: Advancing Older Adult Mental Health Care

The relationship between social media use and psychosocial outcomes in older adults: A systematic review

A recent systematic review published in International Psychogeriatrics explores the impact of social media use on the psychosocial wellbeing of older adults. The study indicates that engaging with social media can enhance social connections and reduce feelings of loneliness among seniors. However, the benefits are influenced by factors such as the quality of online interactions and the individual's comfort with technology. The study suggests that tailored interventions promoting positive social media engagement could support mental health and social well-being in the elderly population. Read more here. 

Brief screening for social anxiety in children

This study, led by PhD student Taylor Hathway and a team of Lifespan researchers, provides evidence for identifying social anxiety disorder in young people using a parent and child responses to a three-question tool typically used in adult research. The study helps advance methods to quickly identify children who may be in need to support for anxiety. Read the full article.

Call for research participants

Anxiety Research Study (CONTACT-GAD Research Trial)

We are currently running a research trial looking at treatment-resistant anxiety in adults ages 60 and above. The purpose of this trial is to see whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is helpful for reducing anxiety in older people with treatment-resistant generalised anxiety disorder, compared to usual care alone. We would also follow up with participants to complete two follow up assessments after they have completed treatment. Participants will be offered a $50 voucher after the 6-month and 12-month follow-up to reimburse them for their time. Participation in this research trial is free of cost.

For further information, you can contact the Australian central study team at olderadults.research@mq.edu.au or 02 9850 8715.

Do you have a child in their first few years of school?

Calling all parents of school children in grades Foundation (Kindy) - Year 3: Opportunity to contribute to the evaluation of a mental health and wellbeing check-in tool for Australian school students.

My Mind Check is a free, online and voluntary mental health and wellbeing check-in tool for Australian schools and students. It is being developed by Macquarie University on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Education.

We are seeking children in Kindergarten – Year 3 and their parents to help briefly in the evaluation of the questions that will be used for students in these grades. Participation involves both the child and their parent completing a few short online surveys about the child’s mental health and wellbeing. The whole process should take approximately 15 minutes. The survey is completely anonymous - no personal information (e.g., name, email) is connected in any way with the parent or child’s answers.

If you would like to participate, please use the link below to register. Only one child per family is eligible to participate. If you have any questions, please contact mymindcheck@mq.edu.au. This evaluation will close by Wednesday 18^th December. Register here.

Do you provide informal care for someone living with dementia?

Help us understand your experiences providing informal care. We are interested in learning about the kinds of support you need.

To be eligible to participate, you must be able to:

• Be an informal carer (for at least 6 months) for a person with dementia.
• Present carers are eligible, as well as people who have provided care in the last 12 months
• Be able to read and write English Reside in Australia

Please follow the link to navigate to the Participant Information and Consent Form to read more about the study. If you consent to participate, you will then be directed to the main survey. After survey completion, you will be redirected to the prize draw entry. Alternatively, if you are interested in learning more about this study or signing up, please contact the research team by email olderadults.research@mq.edu.au.

Older Adult Research Database

We are looking for older adults who are interested in registering in our Older Adult Research Database. This database will list the contact information of participants interested in receiving information about research participation opportunities that we have at Macquarie University. The research database is aimed at research associated with understanding mental health and wellbeing in adults aged over 60 years. Join the database.

Widespread risk screening could slash dementia cases

In Australia, there are currently more than 410,000 people living with dementia, and with the aging population, that number is predicted to more than double to about 900,000 by 2050. Worldwide, the current figure is 55 million. In 2050, it is expected to have topped 139 million. 

Exercise, a healthy diet and mental health interventions are among the factors known to help reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Treating common health problems and controlling for lifestyle risks could help Australia cut rising dementia rates by as much as 45 per cent. So why aren’t we screening older people and helping them make the necessary changes? Read the full article. 

Join us in trialling the Ageing Well Tool, a screening and early intervention tool designed to identify and reduce risks for dementia and enhance overall wellbeing in primary care patients aged 60-70, to set them up for ageing well. Find out more. 

We want to hear from you

Are you interested in playing a key role in shaping research? We are seeking individuals who are enthusiastic, engaged, and genuinely interested in influencing research and promoting consumer interests.

Our Consumer Engagement Network is a vital community of consumers who help inform and guide our research initiatives. As a member, you will provide valuable insights, feedback, and perspectives that contribute to the success and relevance of our research projects.

Find out more about the Consumer Network including our research aims and what is involved here. Register your interest in joining this important group by completing this form.

Emotional Health Clinic update 

The Emotional Health Clinic offers face-to-face and online options for accessing our evidence-based treatment programs for children, teens and their caregivers across the Lifespan.
 

Cool Kids Anxiety Programs 
The Cool Kids Program is a world renowned cognitive-behavioural skills-based program that teaches children, teenagers and their caregivers how to better manage anxiety. 

The original Cool Kids Program aims to provide children and caregivers with skills and strategies to help them better manage anxiety.

• Cool Kids is designed for children aged 7 to 12 years old (primary school)
• Chilled is designed for teenagers aged 12 to 17 (high school).

For more information: 
Download the Cool Kids flyer (for face-to-face treatment in our North Ryde Clinic)
Download the Cool Kids Online flyer (for online treatment available to families across Australia)
Download the Chilled Out Online flyer (for online treatment available to teenagers across Australia)

Tailored individual therapy
Psychologists at the Emotional Health Clinic work with clients of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults and older adults. 

Visit our website for more information about our treatments, fees and rebates. 

Discover more about our services and programs. Alternatively, please contact the Emotional Health Clinic on +61 (2) 9850 8711 or email ehc.admin@mq.edu.au with any queries.

A small donation can make a huge difference

The Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre seeks to maximise emotional, social and cognitive health and wellbeing for all Australians regardless of age, background, or psychosocial advantage.

We want to help people live their best life by producing high quality research, engaging in community outreach, and providing mental health training and treatment services via our online and face-to-face clinic. With your help (large or small), we can develop and provide programs for change, promoting healthier and happier families, people and communities.