Helen Christensen ( AO) is the Scientia Professor of Mental Health at the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. She has been the Board Director of the

Black Dog Institute __NOTOC__ The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit facility for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. It was founded in 2002 by the UNSW School of Psychiatry Scientia Professor ...

since 2022. She is also a former executive director and Chief Scientist at the Institute, having led the organisation from 2011 to 2021. Christensen is a leading expert on using technology to deliver

evidence-based Evidence-based practice is the idea that occupational practices ought to be based on scientific evidence. The movement towards evidence-based practices attempts to encourage and, in some instances, require professionals and other decision-makers ...

interventions for the prevention and treatment of depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm. Her research also encompasses prevention of

mental health Mental health is often mistakenly equated with the absence of mental illness. However, mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave, and how t ...

problems in young people through school-based

research Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to ...

programs. These programs are aimed at the prevention of depression and suicide risk through eMental Health interventions. Christensen holds a number of affiliations, including serving on the Million Minds Mission Advisory Panel, an Australian government initiative which supports and funds research into mental health and suicide prevention. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Christensen was made an

Officer of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AO) in the

2019 Australia Day Honours The 2019 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2019 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove. The Au ...

for "distinguished service to medical research through the development of on-line mental health treatment programs". In December 2023, she was awarded the

James Cook Medal The James Cook Medal is awarded on an occasional basis by the Royal Society of New South Wales for "outstanding contributions to science and human welfare in and for the Southern Hemisphere". It was established in 1947 from funds donated by Henry Fe ...

by the

Royal Society of New South Wales The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. The Governor of New South Wales is the vice-regal patron of the Society. It is the oldest learned society in the Southern Hemisphere. The Society traces its ...

for "for outstanding contributions to science and human welfare in the Southern Hemisphere."

References

External links

Black Dog Institute
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Helen Academic staff of the Australian National University Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Officers of the Order of Australia 21st-century Australian scientists 21st-century Australian women scientists