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Researcher

Associate Professor Aliza Werner-Seidler

My Expertise

I am an expert in the prevention and early intervention of adolescent and young adult depression and anxiety disorders. My vision is to bring the prevention of common mental health disorders into mainstream medicine, and to reverse the trend of worsening mental health in young people. Vaccination is among the key successes of modern medicine and I envisage a future where every single young person regardless of their risk or circumstance, receives effective prevention programs delivered in their school. I conduct large scale effectiveness and implementation trials to examine the best ways to embed evidence-based prevention programs into the school system. I am also interested in the role of poor sleep as a risk factor for depression and other mental health problems among young people, and conduct research into the role of sleep as a therapeutic target for mental health. 

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Mental Health, Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology, Psychiatry (incl. Psychotherapy), Mobile Technologies

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Biography

My research program uses experimental and clinical trial methodology to examine the best ways to prevent mental illness in young people. 

I am a nationally and internationally recognised leader in conducting large scale trials to examine the best ways to prevent common mental illness in young people, using evidence-based programs, delivered both through the school system and in the community. I am currently leading the Future Proofing Study -...view more

My research program uses experimental and clinical trial methodology to examine the best ways to prevent mental illness in young people. 

I am a nationally and internationally recognised leader in conducting large scale trials to examine the best ways to prevent common mental illness in young people, using evidence-based programs, delivered both through the school system and in the community. I am currently leading the Future Proofing Study - the largest mental health digital prevention trial undertaken globally, and will use this data to better understand the risk factors and reasons why young people develop mental illness in the first place. The overall goal of this research is to improve prevention treatments and better target those who are at risk. I am particularly interested in addressing the gender gap in mental illness - girls and women currently experience mental ill health at a rate of twice that relates to boys and men. 

My current research areas include:

  • Prevention and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders
  • School mental health, including student wellbeing, teacher mental health and implementation in schools
  • Treatment of child and adolescent insomnia and sleep disturbance
  • Digital delivery of evidence-based programs at scale

For information on specific projects please go to: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/research/our-researchers/aliza-werner-seidler

Funding Sources: 

  • National Health & Medical Research Council
  • Medical Research Future Fund
  • nib Foundation
  • Perpetual Impact

My Grants

Selection of current grants: 

NHMRC Investigator Grant. The Kids Aren't Alright: Preventing Adolescent Depression. Sole CI: Werner-Seidler (2021-2026).

Medical Research Future Fund. Optimising Treatments in Mental Health Using Artificial Intelligence. CIs: Christensen, Huckvale, Newby, Werner-Seidler, Beames, Han, Venkatesh, Gupta, Quin, Mouzakis, Vasa, Kummerfeld, Cutler (2020-2023). 

Goodman Foundation. Supported Online Therapy for Youth: Filling a Gap in Australian Mental Healthcare. CIs: O'Dea, Werner-Seidler (2020-2023). 

Perpetual Impact. Reducing Mental Illness By Targeting Sleep Disturbance in Young Adults. CIs: Werner-Seidler, Newby (2021-2022). 

 


My Qualifications

BPsychol (Hons) - UNSW, 2006

Combined PhD/MPsychol(Clinical) - UNSW, 2012


My Awards

2022 - Australian Rotary Health and the Alliance for Prevention of Mental Health Disorders Mid Career Award for Research Excellence 

2018 - Young Tall Poppy Award from Australian Institute of Policy and Science

2017 - Australian Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Tracy Goodall Early Career Researcher Award

2015 - British Psychological Society International Rising Star Award


My Research Supervision


Supervision keywords


Areas of supervision

I am currently available to supervise PhD students

PhD project areas include: 

  • Targeting sleep disturbance and insomnia in adolescents to prevent depression
  • Examining cognitive indicators that contribute to the link between sleep disturbance and mental ill health
  • Exploring the implementation of evidence-based digital mental health programs in schools
  • Investigating teacher wellbeing and preventing burnout

I am open to other areas of interest from potential students and would consider supervision should it fall within my expertise. Please get in touch to discuss. 


Currently supervising

1. Joint supervisor, Michelle Tadros. PhD thesis title: Treating insomnia in young adults. 2020 - 

2. Joint supervisor, Jacqueline Frei. PhD thesis title: Enhancing mental health literacy in primary school teachers. (part time) 2021 - 

3. Joint supervisor, Katarina Kikas. PhD thesis title: Illness Anxiety Disorder: A longitudinal investigation. 2022 -  

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Location

Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine

Contact

02 9382 3803
02 9382 8207