Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing

We aim to protect and promote mental health and wellbeing through a range of innovative research programs to enhance prevention, early intervention, and support strategies across diverse populations.

Our work focuses on lived experience and understanding the biological, social, and environmental factors that influence mental health and wellbeing to inform evidence-based policies and programs.

Our focus areas

Research units

Biological Neuropsychiatry
and Dementia

We investigate risk factors and biomarkers that may aid the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental conditions attributable to diseases of the nervous system, including cognitive deficits, degenerative diseases, and mood disorders.

Head of Unit

Professor Joanne Ryan

Global and Women’s Health

We seek to understand health inequities and a range of health determinants negatively impacting women around the Indo-Pacific region, and explore how these factors influence women’s mental health and wellbeing.

Head of Unit

Professor Jane Fisher AO

Health and Social Care

We work at the intersection of public health, psychology, social sciences, clinical care and communications, to generate evidence that supports policies and programs that improve physical and mental health and wellbeing in the community.

Head of Unit

Professor Helen Skouteris

Health Economics

We work at the intersection of public health, psychology, social sciences, clinical care and communications, to generate evidence that supports policies and programs that improve physical and mental health and wellbeing in the community.

Head of Unit

Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos

Healthy Working Lives

Our research into the experiences of injured Australians navigating complex care and compensation systems helps guide improvements that assist mental and physical recoveries, and hasten workforce re-entry.

Head of Unit

Professor Alex Collie

Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health

We conduct ongoing analysis of the mental and physical health of high-risk worker groups and communities affected by environmental disasters, to identify health problems and inequities and facilitate support and treatment.

Director

Professor Karen Walker-Bone

Centres and major initiatives

Connecting for Better Health

A major NHMRC-funded program that will allow decision-makers to successfully identify and scale-up acceptable, targeted, equitable and cost-effective strategies for reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Design for Care

We contribute to the Design for Care project, a large-scale NSW-based initiative to build mentally safe and healthy workplaces that reduce the risk of psychological injury like burnout.

The SEED Program

A comprehensive online training tool for educators working with young children with low- and high-risk of social-emotional difficulties, in partnership with not-for-profit organisation bestchance.

Our courses

Our impact in action

The NDIS shifts almost $27m a year in mental health costs alone, our new study suggests

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was set up in 2013 to help Australians with disability live more independently, and participate more in work and community life.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine 20 March, 2026

Independent evaluation team appointed to evaluate new National Early Intervention Service (NEIS) for mental health

The Australian Government’s new National Early Intervention Service (NEIS) is set to make low-intensity support easier to access for people living in Australia who need it.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine 16 July, 2025

Australian schools resilience program delivers improved mental health outcomes for more than 40,000 kids

A Monash University study evaluating a program promoting mental health and wellbeing introduced to over 100 schools and more than 40,000 Australian high school students has found it results in improved mental health outcomes.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine 19 May, 2025

Grief and loneliness universal: when a spouse dies, there is no relief, regardless of gender, health or wealth

Monash University-led research has found that when a spouse dies, loneliness and grief persist regardless of social support or health.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine 28 January, 2025

The hidden burden of weight stigma in pregnant women and new mums

People with larger bodies commonly face a pervasive, resilient form of social stigma, often facing discrimination in the workplace as well as in educational and healthcare settings.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine 12 November, 2024
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