New research led by Orygen's Dr Ellie Brown has explored how participation in the national headspace Early Psychosis program impacted the substance use of nearly 2,000 young people – highlighting how programs like these can make a real difference: bit.ly/48s8hG8

Financial pressure is harming wellbeing and preventing young people from accessing support. That's the key finding of a new Orygen poll, which asked over 1000 Australians for their thoughts on links between the cost of living and youth mental health.

Delivered online by experienced mental health practitioners, the Foundations in Mental Health Practice program aims to provide accessible learning in areas like trauma-informed care, working with diverse social and cultural groups, and supporting self-advocacy. More: bit.ly/4cwCIMq

Behind the scenes: Papa Roach at Orygen HQ 🌱 During the band's recent visit to our Melbourne office, it was a pleasure to share a bit about our work, introduce some of the team, and connect on a shared vision of a brighter future for all young people.

Brilliant to today host the inaugural Orygen Research & Careers Showcase, alongside the Melbourne University Psychology Association team 🌱

Victoria's medical research institutes are delivering groundbreaking, meaningful work – but without sufficient investment, the sector's future is at risk. We were proud to be at Parliament Gardens with @aamri.bsky.social earlier this week, in support of this important initiative 👇

We were pleased to welcome Mayor Hou Yu-Ih of New Taipei City and a delegation of senior officials to Orygen this week, to exchange insights about our shared work in youth mental health and suicide prevention.

NEWS | AI for mental health is here – and major new funding will enable an Orygen Digital and University of Melbourne team led by Dr Isabelle Scott to research safer, more fit-for-purpose models. Details via @sydmorningherald.bsky.social (paywall): bit.ly/3Pnw6It

Orygen Executive Director, Prof. Patrick McGorry, had the privilege of meeting King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark last week at headspace South Melbourne, alongside headspace CEO Jason Trethowan and the wider team.

Congratulations to Orygen Senior Research Fellow Dr @sammckay.bsky.social, whose impactful work has been recognised with a 2026 Suicide Prevention Australia VIC LiFE Award!

RESOURCE | Orygen's Suicide Prevention team has developed a set of co-designed recommendations for researchers to use when considering the role of parents and carers of young people involved in suicide research. Free to access: bit.ly/3MqYAjx

Short-term supports are essential to ensure young people can access the mental health care they deserve. Orygen’s Brief Intervention Toolkit (BIT) helps equip clinicians to deliver this kind of care. Places are limited for our next one-day online training on 4 March: bit.ly/4avdKfi

We were pleased to yesterday welcome The Hon Emma McBride and Basem Abdo MP to headspace Craigieburn, who visited to congratulate the team for their delivery of high-quality student placements, and to see how this is building the workforce that supports young people locally.

Congratulations to the team at headspace Craigieburn on this week receiving a national award for their delivery of high-quality, multidisciplinary student placements – which have supported more than 58 emerging clinicians since 2022 👏 More: bit.ly/4axTMkj 📸: Jordy Scott

Developed by Orygen's suicide prevention team in partnership with young people, #chatsafe is a collection of resources and advice on how to talk about self-harm and suicide safely online. More from @chatsafe.bsky.social this #SaferInternetDay: bit.ly/4ksOtHs

Orygen's Prof. Patrick McGorry will be joining sector leaders at the First Step Futures Forum next week for an important conversation about what the next 25 years of care could look like. 📍 Wednesday 11 Feb at 3pm St Kilda Town Hall Free to register: bit.ly/4b6fKgj

While many young people experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours, it's estimated that fewer than half access support. Digital tools could help address this, new Orygen research has found: bit.ly/3MdTdUu

A new $770K research grant will advance an important pilot study led by Orygen's Prof. @kelly-allott.bsky.social, which aims to give young people, their families and supporters more say in the treatment decisions that affect them. Details: bit.ly/4q1XbgU

Orygen recognises 26 January as Survival Day. In the words of our First Nations team here at Orygen, it's also a reminder that history is created every day, and that by acknowledging the past and committing to learning and action, we can all individually contribute to a better future.

NEWS | Orygen has been appointed to operate a new headspace centre in Moonee Valley, expanding access to free, youth-specific mental health care across Melbourne's north-west. Details: bit.ly/4sQT2ix

RESEARCH | Delusions in psychosis are shaped by emotions and language, an important new study from @unibirmingham.bsky.social, @unimelb.bsky.social, @york.ac.uk and Orygen has found – challenging old notions about these experiences. More details + key findings: bit.ly/4pBBgg8

Integrated care can make a real, meaningful difference for young people experiencing mental ill-health and substance use concerns. First Step is bringing together leading voices including Orygen's Prof. Patrick McGorry to envision the future of care: bit.ly/4b6fKgj

RESEARCH | A new Orygen study has found that of young people who attend headspace centres and use substances, as many as 65% also meet the criteria for substance use disorder – with important implications for early intervention. More: bit.ly/45vTEQv

LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience significantly higher levels of mental ill-health than heterosexual people, and new research from Orygen and La Trobe University has shown why addressing stigma from every level matters. Details: bit.ly/4pP6MIy

Over 1.1 million Australians live with an eating disorder – and almost 1 in 3 are under 19. Early intervention saves lives, yet treatments have not improved in decades. These holidays, you can help change that: bit.ly/4pOSAPi

NEWS | $14m in funding from Wellcome will enable Orygen Digital and @unimelb.bsky.social to create MOST-Nexus, a world-first digital platform combining AI, clinical care, and peer support. Details: bit.ly/4pII38X

RESEARCH | The advice young men receive after a breakup is often the opposite of what they actually want and need, a new study led by Orygen Research Fellow @michaelwilson1.bsky.social has found. More: bit.ly/3KK6eob

As Australia implements age-based restrictions on social media, Orygen has published new research that shows Australians of all ages are being exposed to self-harm and suicide-related content online – and those aged 15-25 are especially vulnerable. More: bit.ly/3XJ0Swj

Eating disorders research funding amounts to just ~$2 for every person in need. It's this chronic underfunding that means A/Prof. Andrea Phillipou and her team's work is at risk of discontinuing. These holidays, you can help change that: bit.ly/4pOSAPi

Emerging research excellence has been in the spotlight here at Orygen recently, with two key events celebrating the impactful work of our early- and mid-career researchers 🧵

Are you a psychiatry trainee or consultant looking to specialise in youth psychiatry? Applications are now open to study Orygen's Professional Certificate in Youth Psychiatry, the only fully online course of its kind in Australia and New Zealand: bit.ly/3KnLl1M

NEW RESEARCH | One of Australia's largest, most comprehensive generational analyses of suicide-related behaviours has revealed the concerning extent to which Gen Z are experiencing these thoughts and behaviours. Key findings + recommendations: bit.ly/3KySFI3

RESEARCH | Early – and more rapid – exposure to the oestradiol (E2) hormone during puberty can lead to faster brain maturation and a greater risk of mental ill-health in girls. That's the key finding of a study led by Orygen PhD student Muskan Khetan: bit.ly/4pyX3Wm

As the most effective evidence-based supported employment program used in mental health services worldwide, IPS is all about supporting young people into meaningful work and study – and so is Orygen's Youth IPS Centre of Excellence 🧵 #InclusionAtWorkWeek

A consortium of 13 expert organisations, led by Orygen, has handed down advice on models of youth mental health care in Australia. It's a significant piece of work that we hope sets a clear path forward. Summary + full reports: bit.ly/3LPI6Rd

3 days left to apply for the ASEAN-Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship! This innovative program supports Fellows to develop a youth mental health advocacy project plan, designed around the needs of their communities in the ASEAN-Pacific region: bit.ly/4hDNWRt

RESOURCE | Used to treat psychotic spectrum disorders including schizophrenia, clozapine is a medication that comes with specific requirements such as regular physical health tests. Explaining this and similar FAQs is the focus of a new guide, co-designed with lived experience: bit.ly/3L2Z3r0

Helping parents better recognise and respond to emotions in themselves and others can measurably impact their adolescent children's developing brains. That's the key finding of a world-first study led by Sylvia Lin, published today in @jamapediatrics.com: bit.ly/48QepZJ

We're looking forward to @swanresearch.bsky.social's Body Image & Related Disorders (BIRD) Conference on Friday 7 November at 10am (AEDT). In-person tickets are sold out, but there's a limited number of places left to join online. Registrations close on 30/10: bit.ly/4lZGqSC

It's been another proud week for us at Orygen, with Dr Louise La Sala (@louiselasala.bsky.social) and Dr Lucy Zhang recognised for their impactful work 🧵

We're excited to be collaborating with Japan's National Centre for Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP) to share and apply evidence-based practice on vocational support for young people with mental ill-health, made possible by an Australia-Japan Foundation grant.

We're proud to share that over 20,000 young Australians have now been supported by MOST, Orygen Digital's free mental health service for people aged 12 to 25 🙌 More on this milestone: bit.ly/4hdG5Kl

RESOURCES | Schools and other educational settings are increasingly being recognised for the meaningful role they can play in supporting young people's mental health and wellbeing. These free resources are designed to help schools, teachers + clinicians: bit.ly/4oaY99W

Applications are open for the ASEAN-Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship! This opportunity is open to people aged 18 to 30, from Australia or the ASEAN-Pacific region, who are passionate about creating positive change in youth mental health: bit.ly/3LcnAGH

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay: an important reminder of the need to keep youth mental health at the top of the agenda. This was epitomised at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where mental health reached high-level status for the first time. More: bit.ly/3VHvfCp

Orygen's latest Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work course has just started, and we're thrilled to have welcomed such a passionate cohort of students including Amanda and Amelia. More about the course: bit.ly/46Htprp

RESEARCH | A recent study led by Orygen PhD candidate Rosalind Ge has revealed the impact parents can have on young people's sleep – with important implications for youth mental health. Details: bit.ly/3VV77MD

Attended by Orygen leaders Nataya Branjerdporn, Prof. Jo Robinson, Prof. @eoinkillackey.bsky.social and Prof. Patrick McGorry (pictured L-R, photo 1), mental health took centre stage at a United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting for the first time recently. Highlights: bit.ly/3VHvfCp

Research indicates that social media is likely among the megatrends contributing to youth mental ill-health, but it isn't the only factor at blame. With national social media bans for under-16s on the horizon, Prof. Pat McGorry has shared his thoughts with The Age: bit.ly/4gRtnkd

Here's a look back at some of Orygen's September highlights 🧵 We were thrilled to be at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where mental health was firmly on the agenda. 📸 L-R: Orygen's Nataya Branjerdporn, Prof. Jo Robinson, Prof. @eoinkillackey.bsky.social and Prof. Pat McGorry.