Acting Program Head, Mental Health & Youth; Head, Youth Mental Health
BPsych (Hons) MPsych (Clin) PhD
@yaelperry
she/her/hers
A/Prof Yael Perry completed her Masters and PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of New South Wales, and her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, under the supervision of Dr Aaron Beck.
Yael returned to Australia in 2013 to work at the Black Dog Institute in Sydney, where she conducted research on the prevention and treatment of mental health difficulties in young people. In 2017, she relocated to Perth and joined the Youth Mental Health team at Telethon Kids Institute. Yael’s research continues to focus on the prevention of mental health difficulties in young people, with particular emphasis on marginalised populations (such as LGBTQA+ young people) and their families. She also has specialised expertise and interest in the use of digital technology to improve engagement, access and uptake of mental health interventions.
Yael is available to supervise honours, Masters and PhD students. She is currently involved in the following projects:
- Development of best practice suicide prevention guidelines for LGBTQA+ young people (Suicide Prevention Guidelines)
- Understanding the mental health and wellbeing of parents of trans children and young people (Parent Pathways)
- Adapting a ‘serious game’ for the prevention of depression in gender diverse youth (SPARX-T)
- Development of a digital resource hub to improve understanding and support in parents of trans young people (Transforming Families)
- Improving the social and emotional wellbeing of LGBTIQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (Walkern Katatdjin)
- The facilitation of acceptance in trans and gender diverse young people (Trans Young People)
- Evaluation of a Mindful Self Compassion training for LGBTQA+ youth (Mindful Self Compassion)
Previous projects include:
- Examining the link between stigma and mental health in same-gender attracted adolescents (Stigma and Mental Health)
- Assessing barriers and facilitators to non-face-to-face delivery of mental health care for children and young people during COVID-19 and beyond (Mind the Distance)
- A multi-site trial of an online intervention for carers of people with psychosis (Altitudes East West)
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Projects
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Publications
October 2023
Predictors and outcomes of engagement in an online depression prevention program for final year secondary school students
Although school-based delivery of online interventions can effectively prevent depression and other common mental disorders, little is known about the characteristics of students who engage with these programs. This study aimed to identify predictors of two indicators of adolescent engagement (program usage and skill enactment) with a school-based online depression prevention program. The study also explored the association between skill enactment and mental health outcomes.
Published research School Attendance Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthJanuary 2023Conceptualising Wellbeing for Australian Aboriginal LGBTQA+ Young People
It is likely that young people who are both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQA+ would be at increased risk for poor mental health outcomes due to the layered impacts of discrimination they experience; however, there is very little empirical evidence focused on the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people. The current study represents a qualitative exploration of wellbeing among Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people.
Published research Aboriginal Health Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthSeptember 2023Moderated Online Social Therapy for Carers of Early Psychosis Clients in Real-World Settings: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Family carers of youth recovering from early psychosis experience significant stress; however, access to effective family interventions is poor. Digital interventions provide a promising solution.
Published research Youth Mental Health Mental health Child careJanuary 2024Development of best practice guidelines for clinical and community service providers to prevent suicide in LGBTQA+ young people: A Delphi expert consensus study
The aim of this study was to develop best practice guidelines for preventing suicide and reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviours in LGBTQA+ young people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, asexual, and those of other diverse sexualities and genders) within clinical and community service settings in Australia.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2023The Positive Aspects of Being the Parent of a Trans Child: Findings from Trans Pathways
The existing literature exploring the experiences of parenting a trans child tends toward reporting the challenging aspects of the parental journey. Studies also reference positive experiences such as enhanced parent-child connectedness and affirmation of personal values. Limited dedicated research focused on the positive aspects of parenting a trans child exists. We aimed to better understand positive parental experiences accordingly.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2023Considerations for collecting and analyzing longitudinal data in observational cohort studies of transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse people
The health and well-being of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people is receiving increasing attention from epidemiologists and public health researchers, including those utilizing longitudinal observational cohort studies.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthNovember 2023Minority stressors, traumatic events, and associations with mental health and school climate among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia: Findings from a nationally representative cohort study
Population-level, nationally representative data on the prevalence of minority stressors and traumatic events, mental ill-health effects, and the preventative utility of school climate, among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia, is significantly lacking.
Published research School Attendance Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthOctober 2023Trauma-informed prevention programmes for depression, anxiety, and substance use among young people: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review
Mental ill-health and substance use bear a substantial burden and harm on young people and often arise from co-occurring and compounding risk factors, such as traumatic stress. Trauma-informed prevention of mental ill-health and substance use demonstrates significant promise in reducing this burden.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthSeptember 2023Mental ill-health and substance use among sexuality diverse adolescents: The critical role of school climate and teacher self-efficacy
Mental ill-health, substance use and their co-occurrence among sexuality diverse young people during earlier adolescence is relatively understudied. The preventive utility of positive school climate for sexuality diverse adolescents' mental health is also unclear, as well as the role of teachers in conferring this benefit.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthSeptember 2023Web-Based Self-Compassion Training to Improve the Well-Being of Youth With Chronic Medical Conditions: Randomized Controlled Trial
Up to one-third of young people live with chronic physical conditions (eg, diabetes, asthma, and autoimmune disease) that frequently involve recurrent pain, fatigue, activity limitations, stigma, and isolation.
Asthma Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Depression and Anxiety Youth Mental Health Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Youth mental healthAugust 2023Association between mental health workforce supply and clusters of high and low rates of youth suicide: An Australian study using suicide mortality data from 2016 to 2020
Abstract: To examine the association between mental health workforce supply and spatial clusters of high versus low incidence of youth suicide.
Published research Youth Mental Health Geospatial Health and Development Youth mental healthJuly 2023Gender non-conformity in childhood and adolescence and mental health through to adulthood: A longitudinal cohort study, 1995-2018
Few studies have examined associations between gender non-conformity (GNC) in childhood or adolescence and mental health outcomes later in life. This study examined associations between GNC and mental health over multiple time points in childhood and adolescence, and GNC in childhood and/or adolescence and mental health in adulthood.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Raine study Mental healthAugust 2022“Shame, Doubt and Sadness”: A Qualitative Investigation of the Experience of Self-Stigma in Adolescents with Diverse Sexual Orientations
Many adolescents with diverse sexual orientations lead happy and fulfilled lives. However, evidence consistently suggests elevated rates of mental health difficulties in this population relative to heterosexual peers, and internalization of stigma (i.e., self-stigma) is implicated in these elevated rates. This study aimed to understand and describe the lived experience of self-stigma with respect to participants’ sexual orientations.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthJanuary 2023Parental Challenges, Facilitators and Needs Associated with Supporting and Accepting Their Trans Child’s Gender
Parental support is strongly correlated with protective factors for trans youth yet most experience parental rejection or ambivalence regarding their gender. Many parents report a desire to support their child but indicate lack of understanding and support as key barriers. We aimed to develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and facilitators experienced by Australian parents in developing understanding, support and acceptance of their child’s gender and their needs to do so.
Published research Bullying Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthJanuary 2023Knowledge is Power: Trans Young People’s Perceptions of Parental Reactions to Their Gender Identity, and Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Parental Support
Parental support is strongly correlated with protective factors for trans youth, however, most experience unsupportive parental attitudes. We aimed to better understand how youth perceive parental reactions to their gender identity disclosure and what they consider to be barriers to, and facilitators of, support.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2022Reach and perceived effectiveness of a community-led active outreach postvention intervention for people bereaved by suicide
Postvention is a core component of suicide prevention strategies, internationally. However, the types of supports provided to people impacted by suicide vary widely. This study examines the perceived effectiveness of the Primary Care Navigator (PCN) model for people bereaved by suicide. The PCN model was implemented in response to a suicide cluster.
Published research Youth Mental Health Geospatial Health and Development Youth mental healthNovember 2022The Future Proofing Study: Design, methods and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study of the mental health of Australian adolescents
The Future Proofing Study (FPS) was established to examine factors associated with the onset and course of mental health conditions during adolescence. This paper describes the design, methods, and baseline characteristics of the FPS cohort.
Published research Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthNovember 2022Enhancing functional recovery for young people recovering from first episode psychosis via sport-based life skills training: outcomes of a feasibility and pilot study
Early intervention within First Episode Psychosis (FEP) recovery efforts support functional recovery in several ways, including increasing levels of (1) physical activity (2) life skills, and (3) social connectivity. Sport has been proposed as an ideal platform to target these three goals simultaneously.
Published research Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthOctober 2022Factors Influencing Parental Acceptance of Trans Children and Young People: Findings from Trans Pathways
Trans youth are at high risk of mental health difficulties and negative life events. Strong parental support is highly protective however there is little understanding of what factors facilitate the process of parental understanding and acceptance of a child’s gender identity.
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthOctober 2022Psychological Wellbeing Amongst Parents of Trans Children: An in-Depth Qualitative Investigation
Research has shown that parents of trans children face numerous challenges as they navigate their parenting role, however, little is known about the impact of these challenges on parents’ psychological wellbeing.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthJune 2022Mind the distance: experiences of non-face-to-face child and youth mental health services during COVID-19 social distancing restrictions in Western Australia
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, social distancing restrictions limited access to face-to-face mental health services in Western Australia (WA), necessitating a rapid transition to non-face-to-face alternatives, including telehealth. The current study investigated barriers and facilitators to telehealth access and engagement, and preferences for child and youth mental health service delivery during and beyond COVID-19.
Published research Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental Health Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health COVID-19 Youth mental healthMarch 2022Occurrence of psychosis and bipolar disorder in adults with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Evidence suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have increased rates of co-occurring psychosis and/or bipolar disorder. Considering the peak age of onset for psychosis and bipolar disorder occurs in adulthood, we investigated the co-occurrence of these disorders in adults with autism.
Autism Spectrum Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKids Youth mental healthJanuary 2022Occurrence of psychosis and bipolar disorder in adults with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Evidence suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have increased rates of co-occurring psychosis and/or bipolar disorder. Considering the peak age of onset for psychosis and bipolar disorder occurs in adulthood, we investigated the co-occurrence of these disorders in adults with autism.
Autism Spectrum Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKids Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2021Working with young people at risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm: A qualitative study of australian general practitioners’ perspectives
General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in the identification and support of young people at risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm; however, no studies have explored GPs’ perspectives, approaches, challenges, and resource needs when working with this cohort in an Australian setting.
Published research Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthSeptember 2021Evidence that infant and early childhood developmental impairments are associated with hallucinatory experiences: Results from a large, population-based cohort study
Cognitive and motor dysfunction are hallmark features of the psychosis continuum, and have been detected during late childhood and adolescence in youth who report psychotic experiences (PE). However, previous investigations have not explored infancy and early childhood development.
Published research Autism Research Youth Mental Health Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKids Youth mental healthNovember 2021School-based depression and anxiety prevention programs: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Depression and anxiety are often first experienced during childhood and adolescence, and interest in the prevention of these disorders is growing. The focus of this review was to assess the effectiveness of psychological prevention programs delivered in schools, and to provide an update to our previous review from five years ago (Werner-Seidler, Perry, Calear, Newby, & Christensen, 2017).
Published research Depression and Anxiety School Attendance Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthFebruary 2021Intersex adolescents seeking help for their depression: the case study of SPARX in New Zealand
SPARX is a computerized cognitive behavioral therapy self-help program for adolescent depression that is freely available in New Zealand. At registration, users identify themselves as either male, female, intersex, or transgender. We aimed to describe the mental health of adolescent intersex users. A secondary analysis of SPARX usage data over 5 years.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Youth Health Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2021Group mindful self-compassion training to improve mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young adults: Rationale and protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Young adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQIA+) are more likely to experience mental health difficulties and are at significantly elevated risk of substance abuse, self-harm and suicide, relative to their heterosexual, endosex and cisgender peers. There is a need for effective mental health interventions for LGBTQIA+ young adults. Mindful Self-Compassion training is a promising approach; among LGBTQIA+ individuals, self-compassion accounts for more variation in mental health outcomes than bullying, victimization, and adverse childhood experiences combined. Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ individuals with high self-compassion report more positive identity and happiness, less self-stigma, and lower suicidality than those with low self-compassion.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Gender Diversity Youth Health Youth Mental HealthSeptember 2021Computerized cognitive behavioural therapy for gender minority adolescents: Analysis of the real-world implementation of SPARX in New Zealand
SPARX is a form of computerized cognitive behavioural therapy in serious game format funded via the Ministry of Health to be freely available in New Zealand. At registration users identify themselves as male, female, transgender or intersex. We aimed to establish whether adolescent transgender users of SPARX, compared to adolescent male and female users, were more likely to have high mental health needs at baseline and were more likely to complete SPARX. We also sought to determine changes in transgender adolescents' depressive symptoms after using SPARX.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental HealthDecember 2020Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Digital Health Interventions for LGBTIQ+ Young People: Systematic Review
Young people (aged 12-25 years) with diverse sexuality, gender, or bodily characteristics, such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ+), are at substantially greater risk of a range of mental, physical, and sexual health difficulties compared with their peers. Digital health interventions have been identified as a potential way to reduce these health disparities.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Health Youth Mental HealthNovember 2020The Role of the Avatar in Gaming for Trans and Gender Diverse Young People
A significant proportion of trans and gender diverse (TGD) young people report membership of the gaming community and resultant benefits to wellbeing. To date their experiences and needs regarding a key feature of games, the avatar, are largely unexplored, despite increasing interest in the therapeutic role of avatars in the general population. The aim of this study was to better understand the role of the avatar in gaming, its impact on TGD young people's mental health, and their unique needs regarding avatar design.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Health Youth Mental HealthOctober 2020Best practice when working with suicidal behaviour and self-harm in primary care: a qualitative exploration of young people's perspectives
General practitioners (GPs) have a key role in supporting young people who present with suicidal behaviour/self-harm. However, little is known about young people's opinions and experiences related to GPs' practices for such presentations, and their decisions to disclose suicidal behaviour/self-harm to GPs. Additionally, existing guidelines for the management of suicide risk and/or self-harm have not incorporated young people's perspectives. This study aimed to explore young people's views and experiences related to the identification, assessment and care of suicidal behaviour and self-harm in primary care settings with GPs.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Youth Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: Youth Health & WellbeingMay 2020Parents’ experience and psychoeducation needs when supporting a young person who self-harms
The study highlights the need for support for parents and carers of young people who engage in self-harm
Published research Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2020Online self-compassion training to improve the wellbeing of youth with chronic medical conditions: Protocol for a randomised control trial
The Self-Compassion Online program could provide a scalable solution for improving psychological outcomes and quality of life among youth with chronic illness
Published research Youth Health Youth Mental HealthNovember 2019Trans and gender diverse young people's attitudes towards game-based digital mental health interventions: A qualitative investigation
This paper reports on trans and gender diverse young people's attitudes towards digital games and game-based digital mental health interventions
Published research Youth Mental HealthMarch 2018Adolescents' Perspectives on a Mobile App for Relationships: Cross-Sectional Survey
Adolescents were likely to use a mobile phone app for relationship support, and use was not influenced by background characteristics
Published research Youth Mental HealthFebruary 2018Online interventions for the mental health needs of trans and gender diverse young people
Members of our research team have done an online survey (Trans Pathways) exploring the mental health and care pathways of gender diverse youth in Australia.
Published research Youth Mental Health