About 1000 young people experiencing mental health illness asked to share experiences via international study
Young people from the Geelong region accessing mental health services are being asked to volunteer for a $33 million study aiming to predict, treat and ultimately prevent psychotic illness.
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YOUNG people from the Geelong region accessing mental health services are being asked to volunteer for a $33 million international study aiming to predict, treat and ultimately prevent psychotic illness.
About 1000 people aged between 15 and 25-years-old experiencing symptoms of mental health illness will be asked to share their experiences with leading youth mental health research centre Orygen.
It’s hoped the five-year study, funded by America’s National Institutes of Health, will develop a mental health “risk calculator” to offer clinicians, young people and families treatment recommendations.
Project leader Barnaby Nelson said participants would be interviewed by research assistants, have their neurocognitive function assessed, undergo brain scans and blood tests, and have their mental health monitored for two years to determine what can be done to improve treatment.
“We want to identify people who may be at risk of going on to develop a psychotic disorder. “They might have some unusual perception experiences maybe some paranoia … that’s the group we are mainly interested in for this study,” Professor Nelson, a clinical psychologist with 15 years experience researching youth mental health, said.
He said the study would also include young people experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health issues.
Professor Nelson estimated that at least one in four young people are directly impacted by mental health issues.
“It’s important to keep in mind how common these problems are and to seek help whether it’s from a close friend, family or a youth mental health service.
“Australia is at the forefront of having stigma-free services for young people. People shouldn’t feel ashamed to seek help.”
Orygen’s executive director and headspace founder Patrick McGorry said psychosis caused “severe and hidden suffering.”
“This grant is significant because psychosis, and especially schizophrenia, is often described as the ‘abandoned illness’ because it hasn’t been taken seriously by society,” Professor McGorry said.
“These illnesses typically cause severe and hidden suffering, a very high level of disability, lost potential and premature death.
“Preventing and reducing the impact of these illnesses is a number one public health priority, and this research grant will take us forward into a new future where we’re able to do exactly that.”
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Orygen, which has researched early psychosis for more than 25 years, will partner with centres across Australia, Europe and Asia and collaborate with a parallel US consortium at Yale and Harvard universities.
To volunteer for the study, due to begin early next year, call Orygen on 9966 9100.
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. Headspace 1800 650 890. Headspace Geelong 5222 6690.
Originally published as About 1000 young people experiencing mental health illness asked to share experiences via international study