$1.6M FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH THROUGH BEYONDBLUE
Mental health research in Victoria has been given a $1.637 million boost through the national depression initiative beyondblue, Mental Health Minister, Lisa Neville announced today. Announcing the 17 grants at the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Depression research forum, Ms Neville said it was important that research continued into the causes and triggers for mental illness and ways to prevent or treat it.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Mental health research in Victoria has been given a $1.637 million boost through the national depression initiative beyondblue, Mental Health Minister, Lisa Neville announced today.
Announcing the 17 grants at the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Depression research forum, Ms Neville said it was important that research continued into the causes and triggers for mental illness and ways to prevent or treat it.
“The Brumby Government has committed $3.5 million per year to beyondblue, including $1.3 million per year to establish and operate the Victorian Centre of Excellence,” Ms Neville said.
“Victoria is already a leader in health research, and these grants will help ensure that we remain at the forefront in mental health research.
“This year’s grants would help fund research into key mental health issues, including people with multiple conditions, such as depression, anxiety and chronic physical illness.
Projects will also research the impact of substance abuse on mental illness and wellbeing.
“Other projects will enable valuable research into the impact of mental illness on children and teenagers,” Ms Neville said.
“Grants will also help studies into people with mental illness in rural communities, on mental health in the workplace, on mental illness and education and mental illness in the sporting sector.”
The Centre of Excellence provides a focal point for a broad range of activities and creative relationships between academic, research and service agencies.
“Funds through the Centre support new and established researchers to work in the field of depression and related disorders,” Ms Neville said.
“Over the five years since it was established by beyondblue with the support of the Victorian Government, the Centre of Excellence has broadened our understanding of depression and its impact on many different groups in the community.
“There remains much about mental illness, including depression that we don’t know. It is important that we continue to challenge our way of thinking, and supporting research will help that to happen.
“The State Government has shown its commitment to mental health by increasing funding by close to 81 per cent since 1999. The Brumby Government is putting more than $819 million into the mental health services budget this year.”
Attachment: Research projects list
The research projects are: Improving Inter-Personal Communication as a means of Reducing Post-Stroke Depression in Patients Living in the Community. $47,844 to Dr David Andrewes, University of Melbourne.
An investigation into the effectiveness of CBT Group on anxiety and depression in a disease specific versus a generic chronic disease management model. $41,863 to Dr Donita Baird, Southern Health.
MoodSwings: an online intervention for bipolar affective disorder. $100,000 for Prof Michael Berk, University of Melbourne.
An investigation of levels of psychological distress ( depression and anxiety ) and unmet needs amongst people diagnosed with head and neck cancer $90,000 to Dr Jeremy Couper, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Motivational interviewing based health coaching as an early intervention for the prevention of depression in people with Type II diabetes in rural and regional Australia. $134,817 to Dr Mirella Di Benedetto, University of Ballarat.
Type 1 diabetes as a risk factor for depression and other adverse outcomes for young people in rural Australia. $85,930 to Naomi Hackworth, Swinburne University of Technology.
A Program for prevention and treatment of depression in people with intellectual disability: an extension and evaluation of a roll-out into the community. $100,000 to Dr David Hamilton, Deakin University.
Screening and management of depression in cardiac settings: An examination of clinical practice and a national study of prevalence of screening for depression by cardiologists and their beliefs regarding screening and management. $72,906 to A/Prof David Hare, University of Melbourne & Austin Hospital.
Development of alcohol misuse first aid guidelines for Indigenous Australians. $90,000 to Prof Anthony Jorm, University Of Melbourne.
A nurse-assisted screening and referral program for depression among survivors of cancer: a pilot study. $90,000 to Dr Trish Livingston, Deakin University.
Cognitive behaviour therapy for co-morbid chronic headache and depression. $200,000 to Prof Paul Martin, Monash University.
A randomised, controlled, final stage evaluation of the beyondblue depression training program for aged care staff: Impact on the delivery of health care services for older people with depression. $100,000 to A/Prof David Mellor, Deakin University.
Evaluation of Heart Health Online: A program to assist GPs to manage depression and related illnesses in patients with coronary heart disease. $150,000 to Dr Ciaran Pier, Deakin University.
Identifying depression in people with vision impairment and developing pathways to care. $90, 000 to Dr Gwyn Rees, Centre for Eye Research Australia.
Improving the engagement detection and management of adolescent depression: Applying the mobile-type program to general practice settings. $70,000 to Dr Sophie Reid, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Looking beyond dual diagnosis: young people speak out. $83,708 to Dr Sarah Russell, Research Matters.
Investigating the interaction between depression, tobacco and alcohol use in teenage Australians - can we identify a high risk group for poor outcome? A longitudinal study. $90,000 to A/Prof Alison Yung, Orygen Research Centre.
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