Copy

The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use
April 2020 e-news

Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward
Welcome to the first issue for 2020 of the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use (the Matilda Centre) e-newsletter. 

We are in an unprecedented time of uncertainty and people are understandably anxious, fearful and stressed. To defeat the coronavirus (COVID-19) we must physically isolate. The challenge for our mental health is that leaves all of us more vulnerable. Our usual ways of staying connected have been broken and social isolation increases anxiety and depression. We are social beings and we will all generally do a lot better if we strengthen our social connections, increase our social connectedness and look out for each other.
 
At the Matilda Centre we have been working remotely for the past month and watching all the strategies that our researchers and professional staff have put in place has been fantastic. We are forging ahead with our existing projects, although some may experience delays. On top of this we are working with state and federal governments, foundations and other groups in response to the mental health impacts of this pandemic. Learn more about these initiatives at our new COVID-19 webpage.
 
Stay safe, check in with others, and look after yourself both physically and mentally during this time.
 
Maree Teesson
Director

In this issue

COVID-19 update
Our research: Latest news
Webinars
Get involved
PREMISE update

COVID-19 update

Getting the most out of working from home
Melissa Gray and Paul Newman share how the Matilda Centre transitioned to working from home, as well as tips on staying socially connected whilst physically distant. Read more.
Sydney Ideas | Tuesday 21 April 1pm (AEST)
Join our director Prof Maree Teesson in conversation with Dr Lexine Stapinski as they explore some of the difficult questions on how to cope during COVID-19. Register today.
Dr Erin Kelly shares her tips
Erin recently shared some valuable advice on managing wellbeing during COVID-19. Listen to Erin's top 5 tips on the Treehouse Tonic podcast.

Research Tracker and Facilitator for Assessment of COVID-19 Experiences and Mental Health
We are leading a joint initiative to help facilitate collaboration among our research partners. Learn more.

Supporting Australian schools
As a show of support for the challenges that school staff, parents and young people are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic, Climate Schools are offering FREE access to the Climate Schools program.
REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL

Our research: Latest news

Researcher Spotlight: Dr Emma Barrett's current research includes a world-first, NHMRC funded, randomised controlled trial to address co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders. Read more.
Student Spotlight: PhD student Jennifer Debenham is developing a neuroscience based drug education program for older adolescents, known as 'The Illicit Project'. Read more.
Project Profile: Our researchers conducted a needs assessment among patients, clinicians and families to guide the development of decision-support resources for individuals with co-occurring depression and problematic alcohol use. Read more.
Project Update: A new mental health module has been added to the successful evidence-based Climate Schools online intervention program following the results of a trial evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Read more.

Webinars

Cracks in the Ice | Tuesday 21 April 1pm (AEST)
In this upcoming webinar Professor Katherine Mills will be sharing her extensive knowledge on trauma and substance use as well as evidence-based approaches to managing treating trauma symptoms. Register today.
Positive Choices | Tuesday 5 May 11am (AEST)
In this upcoming webinar Dr Lexine Stapinski will take us through the development of Strong & Deadly Futures, a school based, culturally inclusive alcohol and other drug prevention program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and explain how your school can trial the program.  Register today.

Get involved: Projects recruiting

Preventure
Researchers at the Matilda Centre are launching an Australian-first randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a school-led Preventure program. Preventure is a brief, personality-targeted intervention to improve student wellbeing and prevent substance use. The program has a strong evidence-base; the critical next step is to test the program when delivered by school staff, enabling broader reach and uptake of the program across Australia.

We anticipate teacher training will occur in Term 3 or Term 4 2020, with the intervention to be delivered to students by Term 1 2021. Schools in the greater Sydney or Wollongong regions wishing to express their interest in participating in this free trial should contact Dr Erin Kelly at erin.k@sydney.edu.au.
 
Strong & Deadly Futures
Matilda Centre researchers are recruiting secondary schools to participate in the first culturally inclusive social and emotional wellbeing, and alcohol and drug prevention program.

Strong & Deadly Futures was developed with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous high school students and incorporates elements of cultural strengths and empowerment. If you are a secondary school staff member and would like to hear more about the program contact us at: info@strongdeadly.org.au or (02) 8627 9013.
 
Community Research Mentoring Program
Applications are open for the community research mentoring program run by the Community Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Research Network.

The program is open to MHCC or NADA members who want to develop and conduct research guided by an expert mentor. Designed to support practice-based research, the program helps to build the skills of the mentee and to equip them with knowledge about research processes and measuring impact and outcomes. For further information and an application form visit the CMHDARN website.

PREMISE update

The PREMISE Youth Advisory Board (YAB) had their first face to face meeting of the year to provide feedback and ideas to exciting Matilda Centre projects. To learn more about the YAB and why they got involved watch the video below.
Introducing the PREMISE Youth Advisory Board
Know someone who might be interested in the Matilda Centre? Share this email via...
Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
Forward Forward
Acknowledgement of Country flags
Acknowledgement of Country
The Matilda Centre acknowledges the tradition of custodianship and law of the Country on which the University of Sydney campuses stand. We pay our respects to those who have cared and continue to care for Country
.
Copyright © 2020 The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, the University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Matilda newsletter at our website, 
sydney.edu.au/matilda-centre

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

To make sure you continue to see our emails in the future, please add
matilda.centre@sydney.edu.au to your address book or senders safe list.






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
The Matilda Centre · Level 6, Jane Foss Russell building (G02) · University of Sydney, NSW 2006 · Australia

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp