Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai – nurture the seed and it will bloom Whau Foundation helps to address gaps in knowledge and service delivery by funding innovative research. Our work focuses on evidence-based practices and developing effective interventions.
We’ve funded over 180 research projects across Aotearoa, driving advancements in understanding and addressing mental health challenges faced by New Zealanders.
We prioritise finding out what actually works in mental health care, ensuring that our initiatives are grounded in research and real-world outcomes.
Here you can explore research projects supported by Whau Mental Health Research Foundation across our 57 years of operating:
Featured Success Stories
The Gauging Risk and Resilience in Teenagers (GRIT) Study
Researcher(s)
Dr Samantha Lee
Child and Youth Mental Health
Fostering Flourishing Youth in Aotearoa
Researcher(s)
Dr Sarah Hetrick
Health Services and Delivery
Primary Healthcare
Text based support following a suicide attempt
Researcher(s)
Dr Lillian Ng
Tech and Digital
Suicide Prevention
Acceptability to Māori of an online platform and interactive chatbot to support mental health wellbeing
Researcher(s)
Dr Amy Hai Yan Chan
Tech and Digital
Understanding the relationship between alcohol and suicide in New Zealand
Researcher(s)
Dr Rose Crossin
Addiction
Suicide Prevention
Rainbow Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Support
Researcher(s)
Gloria Fraser
Health Services and Delivery
LGBTQ+ Mental Health
13 Reasons Why: Dangerous sensationalism or opening up the suicide conversation? Examining young people’s perspectives.
Researcher(s)
Sarah McKenzie
Suicide Prevention
Media
A prospective, observational study of the natural history of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type-1 (CRPS1)
Researcher(s)
Debbie Bean
Physical and Psychological Disorders
Help now for self-harm: development of an app for young people
Researcher(s)
Dr Sarah Hetrick & Dr Karolina Stasiak
A rapid non drug treatment for anxiety – the rapid symptom shifting therapy
Researcher(s)
Professor Bruce Arroll
Treatment Approaches
Intervention
Autism and psychiatric conditions: what’s the genetic overlap in our New Zealand Youth
Researcher(s)
Dr Jessie Jacobsen
Suicide Prevention
Neurodevelopmental/Neurodiversity
Biological
Intervention for children aged 11-13 years, designed to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve self-esteem and participation
Researcher(s)
Ema Tokolahi
Anxiety
Depression
Suicide Prevention
Internet-based treatment (BRAVE) for children and adolescents with anxiety following the Christchurch earthquakes
Researcher(s)
Dr Karolina Stasiak
Population Mental Health
Tech and Digital
Intervention
Effect of methamphetamine (“P”) addiction neural structure and function, and the potential methylphenidate in treatment.
Researcher(s)
Dr Bruce Russell
Treatment Approaches
Biological
Research into disparities in contact with mental health services between Māori and non-Māori.
Researcher(s)
Ms Fiona Mathieson
Primary Healthcare
Intervention
Computerised delivery of a strength-based, consumer driven cognitive behavioural intervention for the treatment of depression and anxiety in young people
Researcher(s)
Dr Karolina Stasiak
Anxiety
Child and Youth Mental Health
Tech and Digital
Studying the patterns of brain proteins in parts of the normal human brain compared with the proteins expressed in equivalent brain regions of patients with schizophrenia.
Researcher(s)
Dr Cooper, Dr Kydd and Dr Faull
Schizophrenia
Other Success Stories
Year
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Select content All 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1986
Institution
Story filter - institution
Select content All University of Auckland University of Otago Massey University North Shore Hospital Rehabilitation Service The Mental Health Foundation (with University of Auckland) University of Canterbury University of Waikato Victoria University of Wellington Wellington School of Medicine
Grant Area
Stories - Grants Area
Select content All areas Depression Child and Youth Mental Health Health Services and Delivery Forensic Psychiatry Primary Healthcare Treatment Approaches Intervention Psychotic Disorders Schizophrenia Addiction Old Age Psychiatry Population Mental Health Biological Community Mental Health Disability History of Psychiatry Huntington's Disease Legal Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Biological Psychiatry Diabetes Diagnostic Techniques Epilepsy Family Mental Health Legal, Māori Mental Health Mental Health Services and Delivery Mood Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurodevelopmental/Neurodiversity Old Age Mental Health Old Age Psychiatry, Biological, Dementia Physical and Psychological Disorders Public Health Schizophrenia, Tech and Digital Youth Mental Health
Primary Research Area
Stories - Primary
Select content All Health Services and Delivery Suicide Prevention Biological Treatment Approaches Neurocognitive Disorders Psychotic Disorders Mood Disorders Tech and Digital Anxiety Depression History of Psychiatry Intervention Old Age Psychiatry Primary Healthcare Schizophrenia Trauma Addiction Child and Youth Mental Health Diagnostic Techniques Disability Family Mental Health Forensic Psychiatry Health Psychology Neurodevelopmental/Neurodiversity Physical and Psychological Disorders Prevention and Promotion Rehabilitation
Researcher
Researcher name
Select content All researchers Dr Bruce Russell Dr F. Goodyear-Smith Dr S. Hatcher Dr Sunny Collings Framework Trust Ms Kate Prebble The Mental Health Foundation Alexia Mengelberg Associate Professor Bruce Arroll Associate Professor Paul Jose Associate Professor Robert J. Hancox Associate Professor Welma Stonehouse Auckland Mental Health Law Association C.J. Bensemann Cathy Stinear Cathy Stinear and Dr Simon Hatcher D.R. Love & R.L.M. Faull D.R. Love and R.L.M. Faull Disability Law Dr Ailsa McGregor Dr Allen Fraser Dr Anthon Rodgers Dr Cate Curtis Dr Cooper & Dr Kydd Dr Coverdale, Dr Lees and Dr Kydd Dr David Codyre Dr Elizabeth Broadbent Dr G.J. Lees Dr Garth Cooper Dr Goodyear-Smith Dr Heinz Albrecht Dr Hiran Thabrew Dr Ian Soosay Dr J. Stanton Dr J.J. Wright Dr J.J. Wright and Dr R.R. Kydd Dr J.M. Stanton Dr Jacquie Kidd Dr Jennifer Jordan Dr Karolina Stasiak Dr Kate Prebble Dr Kerry Gibson Dr Kydd, Dr Liley and Dr Wright Dr Lee, Dr Coverdale and Dr Kydd Dr M. Abas and Dr R. R. Kydd Dr M.D. Patton Dr Melanie Abas Dr Merrick and Dr Aroll Dr Nick Argyle Dr Oakley-Browne Dr Peter Shepherd, Mr Greg Smith and Dr Claire Chaussade Dr S. Merry Dr Simon Hatcher Dr Trish Van Kralingen Dr Z. Cohen Dr. Bruce Arroll Dr. Bruce Russell Emma Sutich Extended Hours Team, Carrington Hospital Fiona Mathieson Forensic Service Francesca Fogarty Francisco Javier Virues Ortega Frank Tracey Garth Cooper Healther McDowell Helen Warren Janett Levien Karen Faisandier Louise Keown Megan Garner Megan Young Ms Fiona Mathieson Ms Lisa M Reynolds Ms Mary O'Hagan Ms Natalie Khin Ms Zolezzi Pam Melding Pauline Griffiths Porirua Hospital Professor Bruce Arroll Professor Garth Cooper Professor Garth J.S. Cooper Professor J. Werry Professor Ngaire Kerse Professor Russell Snell Professor Sunny Collings Professor W.J. Brookbanks Roger Mulder Stacy Wilson Susan Murray T.L. Farrow Warren Brookbanks
Efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of the CALM psychoeducational programme for New Zealand children and families affected by anxiety
Efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of the CALM psychoeducational programme for New Zealand children and families affected by anxiety
Researcher(s)
Dr Rachael Pond
Child and Youth Mental Health
Tech and Digital
A randomised controlled pilot study of ketamine-assisted therapy
A randomised controlled pilot study of ketamine-assisted therapy
Researcher(s)
Dr Nicholas Hoeh
Treatment Approaches
Biological
What becomes of the broken-hearted? Voices of suicidal survivors of family violence
What becomes of the broken-hearted? Voices of suicidal survivors of family violence
Researcher(s)
Emily Cooney
Child and Youth Mental Health
Health Services and Delivery
Sharing Hope: Co-creating Understandings of What Gives Young People Hope
Sharing Hope: Co-creating Understandings of What Gives Young People Hope
Researcher(s)
Dr Janet Spittlehouse
Health Services and Delivery
RASNZ COVID-19 Study
RASNZ COVID-19 Study
Researcher(s)
Dr Annette Mortensen
The use of telepsychiatry during COVID-19
The use of telepsychiatry during COVID-19
Researcher(s)
Dr Gary Cheung
Health Services and Delivery
Tech and Digital
Understanding the changes in patterns of demand for national helpline crisis services and their responses during COVID19
Understanding the changes in patterns of demand for national helpline crisis services and their responses during COVID19
Researcher(s)
Associate Professor Sarah Hetrick and Dr Sarah Fortune
Health Services and Delivery
Developing a Māori Mental Health Advance Preferences statement (MAPs) in the Southern DHB
Developing a Māori Mental Health Advance Preferences statement (MAPs) in the Southern DHB
Researcher(s)
Professor Paul Glue
Health Services and Delivery
Legal
Development of a youth-led, values-based, anti-cyberbullying mHealth tool for prevention of suicide in New Zealand youth
Development of a youth-led, values-based, anti-cyberbullying mHealth tool for prevention of suicide in New Zealand youth
Researcher(s)
Dr Samantha Marsh
Child and Youth Mental Health
Tech and Digital
Using Big Data in Neuroimaging to Discover Brain Activity Associated with Suicidality in Youth
Using Big Data in Neuroimaging to Discover Brain Activity Associated with Suicidality in Youth
Researcher(s)
Dr Narun Pornpattananangkul
Child and Youth Mental Health
Biological
