Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

I am interested in discussing projects on mental health services, including those for marginalised populations, digital mental health, telemental health and suicide prevention with prospective doctoral candidates.

20062025

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

I am an overseas trained public health physician and senior lecturer at Monash Rural Health. My research focusses on the design, implementation and evaluation of mental health and wellbeing services with the purpose of improving the lives and circumstances of people who experience psychological distress and live with severe mental health challenges.

The first mental health service I designed and implemented was called MAANASI in rural Karnataka (India). Following my PhD at Monash University which focused on help seeking for mental health problems by Aboriginal men and the service response, I co-designed a model for early detection of mental health problems among Aboriginal men called the Koori Men's Health Day. Key lessons have been learned from these experiences. I also supported the development of JEKKORA - an Aboriginal model of early identification, and support of persons with psychological distress and suicidal ideation in rural communities. 

I co-edited a special issue on Mental health services and suicide prevention strategies for Indigenous people in the journal Advances in Mental Health with Prof. Pat Dudgeon. I am an Associate Editor for the journal, Frontiers in Health Services and am a guest editor for a special issue on Interventions for suicide prevention for the journal Injury Prevention.  

I have reviewed applications for:

  • UK Medical Research Council and UK Research and Innovation Grant, 
  • Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, GACD
  • NHMRC healthy cities

The following are some of my open access publications

 

Research interests

My current research interests include:

  1. Mental health services research
  2. Mental health service models and models of care for persons with severe mental health challenges
  3. Suicide prevention and suicide prevention models
  4. Primary mental health care and service models
  5. Public mental health
  6. Digital models of mental health care

Supervision interests

I am accepting Masters and PhD students interested in pursuing mental health services research in the areas of:

  • Access,
  • Quality of care (and recovery oriented care) and
  • Continuing care for persons with mental health challenges
  • Digitally enabled personal recovery models of care 

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 1 - No Poverty
  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Education/Academic qualification

Mental health services, PhD, “Improving mental health of Koorie men. A study of help seeking and mental health service response.”, MONASH UNIVERSITY

Award Date: 14 Jun 2011

Community Health, MD, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences

Award Date: 14 Dec 2001

Medicine, MBBS, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences

Award Date: 15 Dec 1994

Research area keywords

  • mental health services
  • Personal Recovery
  • Social determinants of health
  • Marginalised communities
  • Personal recovery oriented services
  • suicide prevention
  • Models of care
  • Evaluation methodology
  • Qualitative Research
  • Telehealth
  • digital health

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or