Dr Debra Rickwood

Biography

Debra is Professor of Psychology at the Centre for Applied Psychology and Head of Clinical Leadership and Research at headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. She is a Ministerial appointee to the NHMRC Australian Health Ethics Committee and a member of the Scientific Leadership Council for the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre. Debra is a community psychologist―Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society―who researches in the areas of: young people’s help-seeking behavior; youth mental health; factors affecting mental health and wellbeing, including alcohol and other drug use; promotion, prevention and early intervention for mental health; recovery from mental illness; and health service utilization and evaluation.

Teaching Areas

Debra is not currently teaching, but teaches in the areas of:

  • Research and professional ethics
  • Research design, methods and statistics
  • Developmental psychology
  • Social psychology
  • Mental health

Research Interests

  • Help-seeking behaviour
  • Adolescent/youth mental health and wellbeing
  • Alcohol and other drug use
  • Mental health promotion
  • Mental illness recovery
  • Health policy and health service evaluation

Selected Publications

Rickwood, D. & Bradford, A. (2012). The role of self-help in the treatment of mild anxiety disorders in young people: An evidence-based review. Psychology Research and Behaviour Management, 5, 25-36.

Rickwood, D.J. & Mazzer, K. (2012, in press). The role of youth workers helping young people access mental health care. Youth Studies Australia, Supplement (March).

Watsford, C., Rickwood, D., & Vanags, T. (2012, in press). Exploring young people's expectations of a youth mental health care service. Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

Rickwood, D., Raphael, B., & Pilgrim, D. (2011). Editorial: Promoting youth mental health through early intervention. Advances in Mental Health, 10(1), 1-3.

Mikhailovich, K., George, A., Rickwood, D. & Parker, R. (2011). A duty of care: Non-drinkers and alcohol related harms among an Australian university sample. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. 33(6), 1-10.

Carbone, S., Rickwood, D., & Tanti, C. (2011). Workforce shortages and their impact on Australian youth mental health reform. Advances in Mental Health, 10(1), 92-97.

Wilson, C.J., Rickwood, D.J., Bushnell, J.A., Caputi, P., & Thomas, S.J. (2011). The effects of need for autonomy and preference for seeking help from informal sources on emerging adults’ intentions to access mental health services for common mental disorders and suicidal thoughts. Advances in Mental Health, 10(1), 29-38.

Wilson, C.J., Bushnell, J.A., Rickwood, D.J., Caputi, P., & Thomas, S.J. (2011). The role of problem orientation and cognitive distortions in depression and anxiety interventions for young adults. Advances in Mental Health, 10(1), 52-61.

Rickwood, D. (2011). Promoting youth mental health: Priorities for policy from an Australian perspective. Early Intervention in Psychiatry,5(Suppl 1), 40-45.

Rickwood, D., George, A., Parker, R., & Mikhailovich, K. (2011). Harmful alcohol use on campus: Impact on young people at university. Youth Studies Australia, 30(1), 34-40.

Berry, H., Hogan, A., Owen, J., Rickwood, D., & Fragar, L. (2011). Farmer’s mental health and climate change. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 23, 119S-132S.

Rickwood, D. (2010). Promoting youth mental health through computer-mediated communication. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 12(3), 31-43.

Rickwood, D. (2010). The end of community psychology, health psychology and the contribution of psychology to health promotion in Australia? InPsych, 32(3), 8-9.

Rickwood, D., Gridley, H., & Dudgeon, P. (2010). A history of psychology in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health. In N. Purdie, P. Dudgeon, G. Milgate, & R. Walker. (Eds.). Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice. Melbourne: ACER (pp.13-24).

Rickwood, D., Blaszczynski, A., Delfabbro, P., Dowling, N., & Heading, K. (2010). The psychology of gambling. APS Review Paper. Melbourne: Australian Psychological Society.

Mazzer, K.R., & Rickwood, D.J. (2009). Community gatekeepers’ advice to young people to seek help from mental health professionals: Youth workers and sport coaches. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 11(2), 13-23.

Gunn, A.K., & Rickwood, D.J. (2009). The effect of amphetamine type stimulants on psychopathology, aggression and cognitive function among clients within a drug therapeutic community. Mental Health and Substance Use: Dual Diagnosis, 2(2), 120-129.

Magor-Blatch, L., & Rickwood, D. (2008). Orientation Guide for Students. Clinical Supervision of Postgraduate Psychology Trainees Undertaking Placements in Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Services. Melbourne: Australian Psychological Society.

Rickwood, D.J., Deane, F.P., & Wilson, C.J. (2007). When and how do young people seek professional help for mental health problems. The Medical Journal of Australia, 187(7).

Rickwood, D. (2007). Conceptual framework for PPEI and applications in general practice: Overview of the literature. Monograph 1 in A. O’Hanlon, A. Patterson & J. Parham (Series Eds.), Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health in General Practice. Adelaide: Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet).

Rickwood, D. (2006). Pathways of Recovery: Preventing further episodes of mental illness (Monograph). Canberra: Australian Government.

Wilson, C.J., Deane, F.P., Ciarrochi, J., & Rickwood, D. (2005). Measuring help seeking intentions: Properties of the General Help Seeking Questionnaire. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 15-28.

Rickwood, D., Crowley, M., Dyer, K., Magor-Blatch, L., Melrose, J., Mentha, H., & Ryder, D. (2005). Perspectives in Psychology: Substance Use. Melbourne: Australian Psychological Society.

Rickwood, D., Deane, F.P., Wilson, C., & Ciarrochi, J. (2005). Young people’s help-seeking for mental health problems. Australian eJournal for the Advancement of Mental Health. 4(3) Supplement.

Day, A., Howells, K., & Rickwood, D. (2004). Current trends in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice. 284, 1-6.

Rickwood, D., Cavanagh, S., Curtis, L., & Sakrouge, R. (2004). Educating young people about mental health and mental illness: Evaluating a school-based programme. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 6(4), 4-13.

Parham, J., & Rickwood, D. (2003). Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health: A National Consultation. Adelaide: Auseinet.

Fleming, M., & Rickwood, D. (2001). Effects of violent versus non-violent video games on children’s arousal and mood. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31(10), 2047-2071.

Berry, H.L., & Rickwood, D.J. (2000). Measuring social capital at the individual level: Personal social capital, values and psychological distress. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 2(3), 35-44

Rickwood, D.J. (1995). The effectiveness of seeking help for coping with psychological problems in late adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 24(6), 685-703.

Rickwood, D.J., & Braithwaite, V.A. (1994). Social-psychological factors affecting seeking help for emotional problems. Social Science and Medicine, 39(4), 563-572.

Current Grants

  • ARC Linkage Project (2011-2013). Building capacity for online counselling for schools: Developing and evaluating an online school counseling program (with M. Campbell, M.McMahon, I. Shochet
  • beyondblue National Priority Driven Research Program (2012-2014). Ensuring careful monitoring of suicidality in depressed young people being treated with antidepressants (with S. Hetrick, J. Gunn, L. Sanci, A. Parker)
  • Mental Illness Fellowship (2010-2013) Evaluation of ACT Step-up, Step-down service

Professional Qualifications, Memberships and Other Appointments

  • Chair, headspace ACT
  • Fellow, Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • Member, APS College of Community Psychologists
  • Member, NHMRC Australian Health Ethics Committee (appointee with social science expertise)
  • Member, Australian Institute of Criminology Research Ethics Committee
  • Member, Scientific Leadership Council, Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre
  • Member, Richmond Fellowship Board of Directors
  • Editorial Board, Advances in Mental Health
  • Editorial Board, Youth Studies Australia
  • Panel Member, ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies, Behavioural Sciences Panel
  • Visiting Fellow, Orygen, University of Melbourne
  • Visiting Fellow, Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health Queensland
  • Visiting Fellow, Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU