Youth Mental Health | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Youth Mental Health

Three-quarters of mental disorders occur before the age of 25 years. The Thompson Institute is conducting novel neurobiological studies to better understand and support the mental health of young people.

Discoveries for a better tomorrow

Could brain scanning to detect risk be in the future of mental healthcare?

Youth mental health studies

Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study

An ambitious, world-first study of the brain and its exciting changes through adolescence.

The longitudinal study works with young participants from the age of 12 through to 17 years
The brain, gut, early life stress and anorexia nervosa

NOW RECRUITING:  Help us understand how early experiences shape biology, and risk and maintaining factors for anorexia nervosa.

Cyberbullying impact research

The first study to use functional MRI to understand the impacts of cyberbullying on young people.

Brain Changer school workshops

We visited schools to teach young people five ways to supercharge their brains.

Combatting Anxiousness for Learning Minds (CALM)

Understanding how anxiousness impacts children's attention and how mindfulness can help.

AAIMS: Adolescence study

This UniSC Thompson Institute study is investigating the links between a Mediterranean eating style, the brain and the gut in teenagers with ADHD.

Latest updates

News and research findings from our youth mental health research program

Contact us

Our research team

Daniel Hermens
Professor Daniel Hermens

Deputy Director | Professor of Youth Mental Health and Neurobiology | Thompson Institute

dhermens@usc.edu.au

Amanda Boyes
Dr Amanda Boyes

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Youth Mental Health) - Thompson Institute

amanda.boyes@usc.edu.au

Michelle Kennedy
Dr Michelle Kennedy

Post Doctoral Research Fellow – Youth Mental Health

mkenned1@usc.edu.au

Marcella Parker
Marcella Parker

Research Assistant (Youth Mental Health), Thompson Institute

mparker4@usc.edu.au

Shae Rendall
Shae Rendall

Research Assistant, Thompson Institute

srendall@usc.edu.au

Need support? Youth mental health community services