Our Researchers

Professor Christensen is a leading expert on using technology to deliver evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of depression, anxiety, suicide and self-harm. Her research also encompasses prevention of mental health problems in young people through school-based research programs.

Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM is a respected leader in the prevention of mental ill-health and the prevention of suicide. She is the Director of Everymind, a registered psychologist, and holds a conjoint appointment with the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle. Jaelea is also an Associate Member of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use (PREMISE). Jaelea is passionate about finding better connections between research and practice and ensuring knowledge translation in suicide prevention policy and practice.

Dr Fitzpatrick is a developmental and clinical psychologist who is passionate about understanding the factors that contribute to the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians. She is particularly passionate about translating this knowledge into evidence-based programs that focus on children and families.

Dr Baker is a Research Program Manager responsible for overseeing The Prevention Hub mental health research program, contributing to the research vision, ensuring research outputs are of high quality, and ensuring research projects are managed within specific time frames and budgets. His PhD examined the relationship between the development of brain connectivity and alcohol use during adolescence. Dr Baker is inspired by the potential for research to prevent the development and reduce the impact of mental ill-health.

Yohana's work is focused on knowledge translation from research into programs that support mental health and prevent mental ill-health. She previously led the development of Ahead for Business, a project to provide digital access to mental health support for small business. Prior to joining Everymind, Yohana worked for 10 years in the not-for-profit sector in London in project management and leadership roles.

Prof Harvey leads the Workplace Mental Health Research Program at Black Dog Institute and the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales. He is a psychiatrist and epidemiologist with a particular interest in the overlap between mental health, physical health and work.

As a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia, Professor Hudson has made distinguished contributions to understanding the factors that contribute to young people’s mental health. She has worked to improve the services available to young people experiencing anxiety and depression through the development and validation of innovative, accessible interventions.

Before starting at the Black Dog Institute, Jennie was the Director of the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University and was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship (2013-2016), and a Visiting Fellowship, University of Oxford (2015-20).

Professor Kay-Lambkin has worked in a clinical research capacity with people experiencing psychotic disorders, depression, personality disorders and alcohol/other drug use problems, with specific experience in the use of cognitive behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing and mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques among people with co-occurring mental ill-health and alcohol/other drug use problems.

Through her interest in improving access to evidence-based care through technology, Dr O’Dea has been involved in the development of multiple e-mental health apps and has co-led investigations into social media and suicide. She currently holds an Early Career Fellowship from the Society for Mental Health Research and is leading the development of e-mental health tools for adolescents.

Dr Deady is postdoctoral research fellow working within the Workplace Mental Health Research Program. He has over twelve years research experience in the field of mental health and substance use disorders. In this time he has worked on a range of projects at a coronial, epidemiological, and clinical level, completing his PhD at UNSW in 2015. Dr Deady has extensive expertise in e-health project management, online service delivery and clinical trials.

His primary research interest is in improving access to evidence-based care through technology and the translation of research into practice, particularly in vulnerable populations including young people and high-risk workforces.