Mental Health & Wellbeing

Positive mental health, flourishing, and resilience to stress are not only critical to the overall wellbeing of a person but also their physical health, affecting both chronic and acute health conditions

Researchers are exploring the mental wellbeing of families, their experience of pregnancy and parenthood, and the efficacy of available support options.

Mental health development of the child is also explored, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our ORIGINS families.

Areas covered by this research domain include:

Emotional wellbeing and competence
Social wellbeing and competence
Anxiety and depression
Stress and resilience
Behavioural concerns
Parental attachment
Flourishing measures

Active

The Flourishing Child

With 24% of Australian children entering school developmentally vulnerable, The Flourishing Child study is developing a tool to connect parents and carers with support so they can best support their child's flourishing.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

The ACE sub-project is working to inform universal antenatal screening for maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by thoroughly examining their impact on the pregnancy and child.

Maternal and Child Mental Health and Wellbeing

Examining the pathways of perinatal maternal mental health that influence child mental health and wellbeing outcomes.

The STORK Project

STress biOmaRKers in pregnant women

Flourishing in Fatherhood

Exploring the challenges to mental and physical health fathers face during their transition to parenthood.

Community Wellbeing During COVID-19

The ORIGINS Community Wellbeing during COVID-19 Project is investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional wellbeing, family functioning and perceived stress on families.

Completed

Timeout for Wellbeing

An experimental study linked to the Mums Minds Matter project, which aims to determine if pregnant women's willingness to engage in online wellbeing programs varies across types.

Mums Minds Matter

The Mums Minds Matter study is comparing three stress-reduction training programs across a custom-designed app that is working to increase long-term mental health skill application among perinatal women.