Young Australians under 25 face a significant risk of mental health disorders, with statistics indicating that roughly one in five are affected.
Addressing this urgent challenge, Western Australian researchers have secured substantial funding from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation to explore innovative, personalised mental health therapies for youth.
The research, led by Chief Investigator Professor Jenny Rodger of the Perron Institute and the University of Western Australia (UWA), aims to tackle the frustrations young people face within existing mental health treatment pathways.
“Issues raised by young people receiving mental health therapies include dysfunctional treatment pathways, limited response to antidepressants, and significant side effects,” Professor Rodger said.
The multidisciplinary team—including scientists, clinicians, an artist, and a young person with lived experience of mental illness—will focus on validating repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment option.
rTMS is a non-invasive therapy for depression that is currently Medicare-funded for adults but lacks robust evidence for use in individuals under 18, creating a barrier to access for youth.
“Our project will investigate the safety and efficacy of rTMS in young people,” Professor Rodger explained. “By integrating brain imaging and genetic testing, we aim to understand individual differences and develop a tailored, personalised treatment approach.”
Central to the research is a commitment to involving young people throughout the process, including co-design, to ensure the study is both appropriate and relevant to their needs. The ultimate goal is to enhance individual wellbeing and make mental health care for youth more accessible, cost-effective, and responsive to the community.
Professor Rodger serves as Head of Brain Plasticity Research at the Perron Institute and UWA and co-leads the Institute’s Youth Mental Health Research and Neuropharmacogenetics Project.
Her co-investigators include Dr Aleksandra Miljevic, Dr Jamie Beros, Professor Anthony Akkari, Dr Jaroslaw Hryniewicki, Dr Kyle Hoath, Dr Salam Hussain, Professor Kevin Murray, Kay Esensoy, artist Michelle Hamer, and Professor Peter Enticott.
READ MORE
Parental Workplace Chemical Exposure Linked to Autism Severity in Children
New Blood Sensor Promises Faster, Accurate PTSD Diagnosis
Study Reveals High Anxiety Rates Among Autistic College Students
