Almost half of all Australians aged 16–85 years will experience a mental disorder at some point in their life and one in five Australians experience a mental disorder in any 12-month period. Screening for mental health problems can increase help seeking and directly link individuals with appropriate services. However, there is a need for better ways to screen for mental health problems in the community.
We are developing better ways to assess mental health in the community. This study is testing these new measurement approaches with volunteers from the Australian community, including people with no mental health problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running the study?
If you have any queries about the project, please contact the trial manager:
Dr Sonia McCallum, Trial Manager
National Institute for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University ACT 0200
Telephone: (02) 6125 8412 Email: mhscreen@anu.edu.au
The Primary Investigator can also be contacted:
Dr Philip Batterham, Primary Investigator
Telephone: (02) 6125 1031 Email: mhscreen@anu.edu.au
What should I do if I am feeling distressed?
If you or someone you know is feeling distressed, there are services to help you. Please talk to your GP, or contact one of the services below:
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 (24 hours)
- Kids Helpline (for people aged 25 and under): 1800 55 1800 (24 Hours)
- Mental health info lines:
- beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 (24 hours)
- SANE: 1800 187 263 (9-5)
What if I don’t want to participate in the study?
Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. If you are not interested in participating simply ignore this letter and the survey.
Why should I participate in this study?
We are conducting this study because we are hoping to develop better ways of measuring thoughts and feelings in the general population. Many people who suffer from mental health problems do not seek help. If we can improve ways of measuring mental health, we can ensure that more people receive the help they need.
How can I obtain information about the results of the study?
Findings from the study will be posted here on the study website after the surveys are returned and the results are collated.
Does this study have ethics approval?
The ethical aspects of this research have been approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any concerns or complaints about how this research has been conducted, please contact:
Ethics Manager, The ANU Human Research Ethics Committee
The Australian National University
Telephone: +61 2 6125 3427 Email: Human.Ethics.Officer@anu.edu.au
