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
2023
The Gauging Risk and Resilience in Teenagers (GRIT) Study
The Gauging Risk and Resilience in Teenagers (GRIT) Study
Researcher(s)
Dr Samantha Lee
Child and Youth Mental Health
2021
Text based support following a suicide attempt
Text based support following a suicide attempt
Researcher(s)
Dr Lillian Ng
Tech and Digital
Suicide Prevention
2020
Understanding the relationship between alcohol and suicide in New Zealand
Understanding the relationship between alcohol and suicide in New Zealand
Researcher(s)
Dr Rose Crossin
Addiction
Suicide Prevention
2020
Acceptability to Māori of an online platform and interactive chatbot to support mental health wellbeing
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
2017
Rainbow Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Support
Rainbow Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Support
Researcher(s)
Gloria Fraser
Health Services and Delivery
LGBTQ+ Mental Health
2017
13 Reasons Why: Dangerous sensationalism or opening up the suicide conversation? Examining young people’s perspectives of the Netflix Series 13 Reasons Why.
13 Reasons Why: Dangerous sensationalism or opening up the suicide conversation? Examining young people’s perspectives.
Researcher(s)
Sarah McKenzie
Suicide Prevention
Media
2016
Help now for self-harm: development of an app for young people.
Development of a new generation e-therapy for young people with mild to moderate depression.
Researcher(s)
Dr Karolina Stasiak
Depression
Suicide Prevention
Tech and Digital
2012
A prospective, observational study of the natural history of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type-1 (CRPS1)
A prospective, observational study of the natural history of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type-1 (CRPS1)
Researcher(s)
Debbie Bean
Physical and Psychological Disorders
2015
A rapid non drug treatment for anxiety – the rapid symptom shifting therapy
A rapid non drug treatment for anxiety – the rapid symptom shifting therapy
Researcher(s)
Professor Bruce Arroll
Treatment Approaches
Intervention
2015
Autism and psychiatric conditions: what’s the genetic overlap in our New Zealand Youth
Autism and psychiatric conditions: what’s the genetic overlap in our New Zealand Youth
Researcher(s)
Dr Jessie Jacobsen
Suicide Prevention
Neurodevelopmental/Neurodiversity
Biological
2014
Intervention for children aged 11-13 years, designed to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve self-esteem and participation
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
2010
Effect of methamphetamine (“P”) addiction neural structure and function, and the potential methylphenidate in treatment.
Effect of methamphetamine (“P”) addiction neural structure and function, and the potential methylphenidate in treatment.
Researcher(s)
Dr Bruce Russell
Treatment Approaches
Biological
2009
Māori Adaption of a brief intervention for common mental health syndromes in primary care
Research into disparities in contact with mental health services between Māori and non-Māori.
Researcher(s)
Ms Fiona Mathieson
Primary Healthcare
Intervention
1996
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.
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
2011
Does withdrawal from methamphetamine addiction induce greater deficits than continued methamphetamine use
Does withdrawal from methamphetamine addiction induce greater deficits than continued methamphetamine use
Researcher(s)
Dr Bruce Russell
Treatment Approaches
Biological
2011
The impact of post graduate training in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) on therapist competence and patient outcome
The impact of post graduate training in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) on therapist competence and patient outcome
Researcher(s)
Fiona Mathieson
2011
Understanding response to Metacognitive therapy for depression – a qualitative analysis
Understanding response to Metacognitive therapy for depression – a qualitative analysis
Researcher(s)
Dr Jennifer Jordan
Treatment Approaches
Intervention
2011
Can genes interact with omega-3 fatty acids to improve brain performance?
Can genes interact with omega-3 fatty acids to improve brain performance?
Researcher(s)
Associate Professor Welma Stonehouse
Biological
2011
Internet-based treatment (BRAVE) for children and adolescents with anxiety following the Christchurch earthquakes
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
2010
Mindfulness based stress reduction to improve mental health of patients who have Rheumatoid Arthritis
Mindfulness based stress reduction to improve mental health of patients who have Rheumatoid Arthritis
Researcher(s)
Francesca Fogarty
2010
Targeting Dementia
Targeting Dementia
Researcher(s)
Professor Garth Cooper
Biological
Dementia
2010
LILACS NZ: Biomarkers associated with dementia and depression in advanced age:
LILACS NZ: Biomarkers associated with dementia and depression in advanced age:
Researcher(s)
Professor Ngaire Kerse
Old Age Psychiatry
Neurocognitive Disorders
2009
Re-empowering healing alternative to psychiatric drugs in the treatment of psychotic disorders.
Re-empowering healing alternative to psychiatric drugs in the treatment of psychotic disorders.
Researcher(s)
Cathy Stinear and Dr Simon Hatcher
Treatment Approaches
2009
Biomarker identification for individualised SSRI prescription
Biomarker identification for individualised SSRI prescription
Researcher(s)
Cathy Stinear
Mood Disorders
2009
A critical discourse analysis of crisis intervention, resilience and mental health nursing in New Zealand
A critical discourse analysis of crisis intervention, resilience and mental health nursing in New Zealand
Researcher(s)
Stacy Wilson
2009
Randomised trial of gratitude diaries for depressed patients using office based internet software
Randomised trial of gratitude diaries for depressed patients using office based internet software
Researcher(s)
Professor Bruce Arroll
Tech and Digital
2009
First Episode Research New Zealand (FERNZ) Outcome Project
First Episode Research New Zealand (FERNZ) Outcome Project
Researcher(s)
Roger Mulder
2009
Queer and Transgender Experiences
Queer and Transgender Experiences
Researcher(s)
Ms Fiona Mathieson
Primary Healthcare
Intervention
2008
Virtual mental health clinic
Virtual mental health clinic
Researcher(s)
Dr Simon Hatcher
Health Services and Delivery
2008
Investigating the link between second generation anti-psychotic drugs (SGAs) and Type-2 diabetes
Investigating the link between second generation anti-psychotic drugs (SGAs) and Type-2 diabetes
Researcher(s)
Dr Peter Shepherd, Mr Greg Smith and Dr Claire Chaussade
Psychotic Disorders
Biological
Physical and Psychological Disorders
2007
Computerised delivery of a cognitive behavioural and psycho-educational interventions in the treatment of depression in young people
Computerised delivery of a cognitive behavioural and psycho-educational interventions in the treatment of depression in young people
Researcher(s)
Dr Karolina Stasiak
Anxiety
Child and Youth Mental Health
Tech and Digital
2007
Evaluating the use of “Overcoming Depression”, a computer-based cognitive behavioural self-help programme as an adjunct treatment for depression
Evaluating the use of “Overcoming Depression”, a computer-based cognitive behavioural self-help programme as an adjunct treatment for depression
Researcher(s)
Dr Merrick and Dr Aroll
Treatment Approaches
Tech and Digital
Mood Disorders
2007
Investigating the prevalence of risk factors for CVD and metabolic syndrome in acute inpatient mental health population in Auckland
Investigating the prevalence of risk factors for CVD and metabolic syndrome in acute inpatient mental health population in Auckland
Researcher(s)
Ms Zolezzi
Physical and Psychological Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
2007
History of the Mason Clinic and Forensic Services in the Auckland region
History of the Mason Clinic and Forensic Services in the Auckland region
Researcher(s)
Ms Kate Prebble
2006
Funding to continue a pilot project to completion.
Funding to continue a pilot project to completion.
Researcher(s)
Dr J.J. Wright and Dr R.R. Kydd
Tech and Digital
2006
The costs of intentional self-harm
The costs of intentional self-harm
Researcher(s)
Dr S. Hatcher
Suicide Prevention
2006
Researching how trainee psychiatrists experience the complex training process involved in psychodynamic psychotherapy
Researching how trainee psychiatrists experience the complex training process involved in psychodynamic psychotherapy
Researcher(s)
Dr Z. Cohen
2006
Researching the regular use of legal party pills to discover the effect they have on cognitive and mood deficits
Researching the regular use of legal party pills to discover the effect they have on cognitive and mood deficits
Researcher(s)
Dr Bruce Russell
Neurocognitive Disorders
2005
Documenting the narratives of people found not guilty of homicide by reason of insanity
Documenting the narratives of people found not guilty of homicide by reason of insanity
Researcher(s)
Susan Murray
2005
Validation of the case-finding and Help Assessment Tool
Validation of the case-finding and Help Assessment Tool
Researcher(s)
Dr F. Goodyear-Smith
2005
Examining the quality of father-son and mother-son relationships of preschool boys with early onset hyperactivity
Examining the quality of father-son and mother-son relationships of preschool boys with early onset hyperactivity
Researcher(s)
Louise Keown
Child and Youth Mental Health
Family Mental Health
Neurodevelopmental/Neurodiversity
2004
Researching the “History of Mental Health Nursing in New Zealand”
Researching the “History of Mental Health Nursing in New Zealand”
Researcher(s)
Ms Kate Prebble
2004
Pilot study for the validation of the multi-item life-style screening tool
Pilot study for the validation of the multi-item life-style screening tool
Researcher(s)
Dr F. Goodyear-Smith
Addiction
Primary Healthcare
Diagnostic Techniques
2004
Validation of screening questions for depression
Validation of screening questions for depression
Researcher(s)
Dr. Bruce Arroll
Diagnostic Techniques
Primary Healthcare
