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Youth Mental Health

The Youth Mental Health team’s vision is to improve the mental health of young people, their families and communities locally, nationally, and internationally.

Vision

To improve the mental health of young people, their families and communities locally, nationally, and internationally. Specifically, we aim to:

  • Reduce the prevalence and impact of mental health difficulties in young people
  • Mitigate risk factors that lead to poor mental health
  • Improve access to mental health support

To achieve our Vision, we will:

  • Conduct high quality and impactful research
  • Ensure the voices of young people and their families are heard and represented in all aspects of our work
  • Translate our research into accessible, evidence-based programs, resources, practices, and policies
  • Mentor the next generation of youth mental health researchers to ensure the sustainability of our research and the stability of our workforce

View the Youth Mental Health Strategic Plan 2025-30.

Team leader

Yael Perry
Yael Perry

BPsych (Hons) MPsych (Clin) PhD

Head, Youth Mental Health

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Team members (17)

Penelope Strauss
Penelope Strauss

BA, MPH, PhD

Research Fellow in Youth Suicide Prevention

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Bep Uink
Bep Uink

BPsych(Hons.), MAppPsy(Clinical), PhD

Honorary Research Associate

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Shakara Liddelow-Hunt
Shakara Liddelow-Hunt

BPhil(Hons)

Honorary Research Associate

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Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan

BA (Hons), Doctor of Psychology

Senior Project Coordinator

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Jacinta Freeman
Jacinta Freeman

BScs, MPH

Program Manager, Youth Mental Health

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James H. L. Hill
James H. L. Hill

BA (Hons)

PhD Candidate

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Holly Moss
Holly Moss

BEd

Project Coordinator

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Kirsty Hird
Kirsty Hird

BPsych (Hons); PhD (Psychology)

Research Assistant

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Blake Cavve
Blake Cavve

PhD (Psychology)

Senior Research Officer

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Mirella J Wilson
Mirella J Wilson

MAppPsych(Organisational), BA(Hons.)

PhD Candidate

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Lily Hayward
Lily Hayward

Research Support Officer / Aboriginal Research Assistant

Azriel Lo
Azriel Lo

BPsych (Hons)

Research Assistant

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Kai Schweizer
Kai Schweizer

BA, MSexol

Research Assistant; PhD Candidate

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Oliver Adams
Oliver Adams

BEd(Prim), BA

Training Coordinator

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Katherine Murfitt
Katherine Murfitt

BSc; Grad Dip (Psychology); Grad Dip Adv (Psychology); MPsych (Clinical)

PhD Candidate

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Jack Farrugia
Jack Farrugia

BPsych(Hons), PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Julia Rosa Bak
Julia Rosa Bak

BA (Hons)

Research Assistant/PhD Student

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Youth Mental Health projects

Show more projects

Featured projects

Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge)

Learn more about Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge)

July 2020

Other projects

GPS Parenting Program. Navigating parenting trans and gender diverse young people with a group-based program: A single-blind randomised controlled trial of efficacy and acceptability. Trans Pathways 2 The effectiveness of education and lived experience resources in reducing stigma towards young people at-risk of psychosis Complex Experiences of Gender Affirmation The impact of top surgery: a longitudinal cohort study of dysphoria, mental health, and quality of life of trans Australians following top surgery Optimise+
All Youth Mental Health projects

Past projects

Altitudes East West Resilience and Diabetes 2 (the RAD2 study) Sport in First-episode Psychosis Trans Pathways YoDA-F (Youth Depression Alleviation – Fish Oil) Youth Suicide Prevention Modelling Project Building Bridges Mind The Distance Mindful Self-Compassion for LGBTQ youth: a multi-site randomized controlled trial The Facilitation of Acceptance in Trans and Gender Diverse Young People Development of a universal aftercare model for people who have presented to the emergency department for a suicidal crisis in WA Stigma and mental health in teenagers who are attracted to the same gender Transforming Families safeTALK training for young people experiencing homelessness: a community-based trial The Youth Safe Haven Café Project QMAP: Mapping journeys of digital and face-to-face mental health support in LGBTQA+ young people living in Australia Exploring LGBTQA+ young people’s experiences of suicidality: a qualitative study

Honorary Fellows

Dr Bep Uink – Edith Cowan University

Dr Sav Swickl - Trans Health Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

Dr Simone Mahfouda - Child and Adolescent Health Service

Zamia Pedro - Child and Adolescent Health Service

Student Alumni

Christina Panos – Master of Clinical Psychology (Murdoch University)

Claire Fitzgerald – Master of Clinical Psychology (University of Western Australia)

Lauren Brooke – PhD (Curtin University)

Jesse Ingram  - Honours Student (University of Western Australia)

Sam Bonney - Honours Student (University of Western Australia)

Georgia Chaplyn - Honours Student (Curtin University)

Valeria Caceres - Honours Student (Curtin University)

James Hill – Honours Student (University of Western Australia)

Larissa Marion – Honours Student (Curtin University)

Zoe Waters – PhD/Master of Clinical Psychology (University of Western Australia)

Penelope Strauss – PhD (University of Western Australia)

Helen Morgan – Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (Murdoch University)

Dylan Gilbey – PhD/Master of Clinical Psychology (University of Western Australia)

Rigel Paciente – Master of Public Health (University of Western Australia)

Laura Wells – Master of Clinical Psychology (Edith Cowan University)

Alesha Kays – Master of Public Health (University of New South Wales)

Ella Carton – Honours Student (University of Western Australia)

Simone Mahfouda - PhD Student (University of Western Australia)

Irene Mateo Arriero - PhD/Master of Clinical Psychology (University of Western Australia)