Research interests of the research team offering the project

Dr Ellie Brown is a research fellow and counselling psychologist whose research focus includes improving the physical and sexual health of people with mental ill-health. She has a background in health services research and has recently been funded to co-develop and test a novel sexual health promotion intervention in young people with mental ill-health.

Professor Sue Cotton is the Head, Health Services and Outcomes Research whose current work is focused on measuring change and progress in young people with mental illness in order to improve outcomes.

Dr Caroline Gao is a Senior Biostatistician interested in statistical modelling of outcomes in young people.

Details of the project

High-risk sexual behaviours (sex without barrier contraception) and health outcomes (sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy) are concerningly high in young people with mental illness. In fact, the recent Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system highlighted the need for services to provide integrated treatment, care and support for physical and sexual health and wellbeing.

Despite this, the area remains under-researched, with a lack of understanding of why sexual health is poorer for these individuals, how we might best improve access to support, and what support should consist of.

There are several areas of interest that this research project could focus upon, including the development of a novel screening tool and moderators and mediators of poor sexual health outcomes across Orygen cohorts. The MPhil or PhD student would be predominantly supervised by an experienced clinician-researcher who works in the field of physical health in mental ill-health (Dr Brown) and supported by Professor Cotton and Dr Gao, experienced biostatisticians and health service researchers.

Project references

1. Brown E, Castagnini E, Langstone A, Mifsud N, Gao C, McGorry P, Killackey E, O'Donoghue B. High‐risk sexual behaviours in young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 30.
2. Brown E, Lo Monaco S, O’Donoghue B, Nolan H, Hughes E, Graham M, Simmons M, Gray R. Improving the sexual health of young people (under 25) in high-risk populations: a systematic review of behavioural and psychosocial interventions. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021 Aug 27;18(17):9063.
3. Pehlivan N, Brown E, Sanchez AY, McMillan F, Moore D, Bhaduri A, Monson K, Badcock P, Thompson K, Killackey E, Chanen A. What impact does illness severity have on the sexual health of young people affected by mental health disorders? A comparison of inpatients and outpatients. Australasian Psychiatry. 2020 Oct 29:1039856220960373.

Scholarships and fees

A stipend is not available for this project.

To complete this project as a MPhil:

Scholarships are available through the University of Melbourne. More information here.

Other scholarship opportunities may also be available but are highly competitive. Please speak to the contact person below for more information.

Domestic Master of Philosophy students do not incur fees. Information on University of Melbourne fees for international students is available here.

To complete this project as a PhD:

Scholarships are available through the University of Melbourne – find out more here.

Other scholarship opportunities may also be available but are highly competitive, so please speak to the contact person below for further details.

Information on fees for domestic and international students is available here.

How to apply

To complete this project as a MPhil:

1. Read information for future students here, and check your eligibility here.
2. Read our frequently asked questions here.
3. Liaise with, and gain the support of, the supervisor/s. Please contact them using the details below and attach a copy of your CV and university transcript(s).
4. Once you’ve gained supervisor support, submit your application here.

To complete this project as a PhD:

1. Read information for future students here and check your eligibility here.
2. Read our frequently asked questions here.
3. Liaise with, and gain the support of, the supervisor/s. Please contact them using the details below and attach a copy of your CV and university transcript(s). 
4. Once you’ve gained supervisor support, follow the steps outlined by the University of Melbourne here. You can go straight to Step 3. 

Contact

Dr Ellie Brown
[email protected]