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As mental health needs outpace traditional services, researchers from Flinders University show how digital, policy-driven solutions can transform care. By collaborating with government, services, and people with lived experience, their work ensures innovations are evidence-based, scalable, and sustained.
T he demand for mental healthcare has reached unprecedented levels worldwide1. Young people are particularly vulnerable, with the peak age of onset 14.5 years 2 . More than 1 in 10 individuals aged 5 to 24 years live with a diagnosable mental disorder, and one fifth of all disease-related disability in this age group is due to mental illness 3 . The COVID-19 pandemic further increased this burden and widened health inequalities 4 . Yet formal help-seeking remains low, especially in low and middle- income countries 5 , with many facing long waits, stigma and other barriers to care. Traditional service models cannot meet demand and even those who start treatment do not receive adequate care or follow-up 6 . In Australia, the economic cost of mental illness is estimated to be up to 220 billion dollars annually (AUD), more than one-tenth of national output 7 . Our mission At Flinders University’s Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (FIMHWell), we have become a recognised leader in creating, implementing, and scaling evidence-based digital mental health solutions that are changing the lives of people with mental
illness in real-world settings. Our mission in this domain is clear: to harness technology to develop and deliver timely, effective, and equitable mental health support and preventative approaches for all Australians. However, we believe that innovation in mental healthcare cannot happen in isolation. Our work is strengthened through partnerships with individuals with lived experience, service providers and policy makers. These collaborations have been critical to success, ensuring our digital tools reflect the latest science, align with service priorities, integrate with existing systems, and respond to user needs. At FIMHWell, we engage early with policy makers, service leaders and end-users to define problems, co-design solutions with end- users, and support rapid but sustainable translation so digital approaches remain embedded beyond initial funding. Our projects have partnered with several policy and service providers nationally and internationally, delivered tools that have reached thousands of Australians, and informed state and federal health and education policies by our high-quality research.
Prof. Bridianne O’Dea PhD Flinders Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing
bridianne.odea@flinders.edu.au
Elli Kolovos Higher Degree Research Candidate (PhD) Flinders Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing
elli.kolovos@flinders.edu.au
Dr Madelaine de Valle PhDClinPsych Research Fellow in Psychology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Flinders Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing
madelaine.devalle@flinders.edu.au
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