Professor Chris Doran

University Lead Manna Institute, Professorial Research Fellow - Health Economics/Research Cluster Lead CReW

School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University

Health Economist Professor Chris Doran has devoted his career to researching the risk factors that underpin and contribute to poor mental health, particularly substance misuse. He has worked with clinicians and policy-makers to develop knowledge and strategies that highlight the economic impact of poor mental health, with the aim of alleviating the burden of harm caused by addictive substances. Professor Doran’s most recent work has focused on the impact of fatal and non-fatal suicide behaviour, and cost-effective strategies to address the mounting toll of poor mental health on society.

As a health economist, Professor Doran aims to influence decision and policy-makers by presenting accessible information.

“Policy-makers understand economics, and breaking down related information is useful in order to argue that preventative interventions are the most effective way to deal with the social impacts of mental ill health,” said Professor Doran.

Professor Doran said working within the Manna Institute represents an exciting opportunity to investigate and apply real-word, preventative solutions to improve mental health outcomes for regional Australia.

“Research is something I am passionate about, and I have been fortunate to work with fantastic researchers and institutions throughout my career. I believe the Manna Institute will create a significant impact through a collaborative approach and focusing efforts on regional Australia where mental health issues and addiction are most prevalent.

“The institute is about collaboration and doing impactful research. It is made up of enthusiastic and committed mental health researchers who work together to make a real difference to mental health and wellbeing outcomes in regional Australia, including rural and remote areas.”

According to Professor Doran, working collaboratively across institutions and with industry partners is something that sets the institute apart.

“The commitment and involvement of partners including Lifeline and Everymind will help to make the research tangible, meaning that we will be able to apply findings and influence decision-making to make a difference to the lives of everyday Australians being impacted by mental ill-health,” he said. “It’s also my hope that the institute will develop and prepare a new generation of researchers to lead conversations and investigations that will ultimately improve outcomes.

“My interactions with Everymind and Lifeline so far stand out to me, with Everymind aiming to change lives through world-leading prevention programs and research, and Lifeline, an organisation that exists so that no Australian has to face their darkest moments alone. Working with these partners underlines the importance of the institute’s work and helps to provide the grassroots, community connections that we need to make a real difference.”

Professor Doran believes the Manna Institute has the potential to establish a legacy of delivering solutions to improve people’s lives through preventative measures and improved support mechanisms that are specific to the needs and issues facing regional and remote Australians.

“Australia is experiencing a mental health crisis and regional Australians are most at risk,” he said. “The obvious strength of this institute is its people and their commitment to improving mental health outcomes for Australians living in rural and remote regions.

“The institute’s legacy will be how its research agenda strengthens the knowledge base around mental health that will ultimately lead to more effective solutions. Along with this, senior researchers will be able to play an important role in developing a new generation of researchers and mental health experts.”

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Associate Professor Belinda Cash

University Lead Manna Institute.

Senior Lecturer, Social Work and Gerentology, Charles Sturt University

Belinda is a social worker with clinical and academic expertise in mental health and social gerontology. Her work primarily focuses on understanding and addressing psychosocial and systemic issues impacting the health and wellbeing of older adults and their caregivers in rural Australia.

Belinda is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Gerontology at Charles Sturt University, Chair of the Charles Sturt Ageing Well Research Group, and co-lead of the Ageing Well in Rural and Regional Australia research program. She also oversees research governance for Equally Well, a national consortium working to improve the physical health of people living with mental illness. These roles all support her primary objective of working with likeminded people who are passionate about improving access and opportunities for better health and wellbeing for rural Australians.

Belinda is a Distinguished Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, awarded for her extensive contributions to supporting student and early career researchers. She is an active supervisor of research students across multiple programs, has led several international programs exploring social welfare and wellbeing, and continues to support students completing field-based learning in social work.

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Professor Dixie Statham

University Lead Manna Institute.

Professor, Psychology, Federation University

A focus on researching the biopsychosocial factors involved in psychological trauma, substance misuse, depression and suicide has characterised the career of Professor Statham. A clinical psychologist with more than 25 years’ experience, she has seen first-hand the enormous toll that mental illnesses take and the difference that treatment can make.

“Research is fundamental to clinical work because it enables us to explore and deepen our understanding of the complex and multiple factors that cause mental illness, which in turn leads to improvements in evidence-based treatments and interventions,” Professor Statham said. “Being a researcher as well as a clinical practitioner puts me in a perfect position to contribute to progress in mental health from different yet complementary perspectives.”

Through the Manna Institute, she is pleased to be helping create and maintain a community of future researchers and to have active input into their training and mentoring. “I am also excited about being part of a research institute that is virtual, where most of our work and interactions are conducted on digital platforms rather than face-to-face in a bricks and mortar building,” Professor Statham said.

While current psychological and biological treatments available to individuals with mental illness have developed through years of careful, rigorous research, in Australia and internationally, Professor Statham believes there is much more to be done. “These evidence-based treatments have made an enormous difference to individuals’ quality of life, but they are not perfect, and the extent to which individuals benefit varies,” she said. “We need to understand more about the mechanisms that underpin recovery and this can only be achieved through research.”

The Manna Institute’s focus on robust training and development promises to create a reliable pipeline of mental health researchers who will have a substantial impact on future research capacity in regional Australia.

The other key strength of the Institute is its training focus. We have developed a clear program of research training that provides career and leadership development opportunities for early and mid-career researchers. We also have a scholarship program which makes it possible to create opportunities for bringing doctoral students on board. Essentially, we have a robust research development pipeline in place that is quite unique and will have a substantial impact on research capacity in regional Australia.

“As a resident of Ballarat, in western Victoria, I am very aware of the acute and chronic mental health difficulties and the challenges around availability and access to services in my area,” Professor Statham said. “Federation University also has other regional campuses, including the Gippsland campus in eastern Victoria, where there are significant challenges in mental health and wellbeing. Developing strong and enduring relationships and facilitating greater integration with local service providers, industry and communities across regional and rural Victoria is fundamental to improving psychosocial well-being.”

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