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Mission

The Centre for Mental Health Research aims to improve the mental health of Australians through research and development, training, policy and the dissemination of health information.

Our mission is to produce population-based mental health research of the highest standard. In particular, the Centre aims to describe and analyze the social, environmental, psychological and biological risk and protective factors for mental health disorders across the lifespan and in ageing; to develop methods of preventing, compensating for or adapting to age-related declines and disorders to enable productive ageing; to improve mental health outcomes through the development and evaluation of population based interventions using Internet technology; to provide a consumer perspective on research content and practice and a focus for the engagement of consumers in mental health research; to develop and evaluate new methods in statistical analysis of complex data sets and clinical trials; and to examine the relationship between mental health and family breakdown.

We also aim to contribute to national policy in mental health and ageing. The Centre participates in public policy debates and informs policy development in areas germane to mental health including social policy, health policy, employment policy and education policy and to provide policy analysis in areas of importance to the mental health of the Australian community including those related to family breakdown, social exclusion, unemployment, consumer involvement in research, and e-health. A special interest is to inform policy in the areas of ageing and mental health, and to contribute to policy development in the areas of cognitive decline, healthy and productive ageing, retirement and mobility.

The Centre has five research units:

Most research staff belong to more than one unit, and a number of core staff belong to three or more units.

The Centre also has a Foundation - AFFIRM: The Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research, which works with business and community sectors to undertake outreach and fundraising for mental health research.