Research Fellow in Youth Suicide Prevention
BA, MPH, PhD
@PenelopeStrauss
she/her/hers
Penelope Strauss holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Western Australia and a PhD, and is currently a Research Fellow in Youth Suicide Prevention at the Telethon Kids Institute.
Penelope recently led the Trans Pathways project, which is the largest study conducted on the mental health of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia. Her current research aims to decrease rates of suicidality among high risk groups of young people in Australia with a current focus on LGBTQA+ young people and homeless young people.
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Projects
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Publications
January 2023
Parental 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 healthFebruary 2022They Told Me “This Isn’t a Hotel”: Young People’s Experiences and Perceptions of Care When Presenting to the Emergency Department with Suicide-Related Behaviour
In Australia, the number of young people presenting to the emergency department with mental health concerns, in particular, suicidal behaviour (defined here as suicidal ideation, thoughts, intent and attempts) is increasing.
Published research 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 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 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 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 HealthMarch 2021Mental health difficulties among trans and gender diverse young people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Findings from Trans Pathways
Recent research highlights an overlap of gender diversity and autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, data on individuals who are trans and also on the autism spectrum are largely from clinical samples and may not be representative of individuals who are trans with ASD in the general population. In addition, there is scant literature on the mental health of these individuals and their experiences in accessing gender-affirming care.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Subsite: Autism & Related Disorders Subsite: CliniKidsJune 2021Perspectives of trans and gender diverse young people accessing primary care and gender-affirming medical services: Findings from Trans Pathways
Increasing numbers of trans young people are seeking medical services worldwide, but there have been few qualitative investigations of the experiences of trans young people attempting to engage with these services to explore in-depth experiences of clinical interactions.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthNovember 2020Options and realities for trans and gender diverse young people receiving care in Australia's mental health system: findings from Trans Pathways
Trans and gender diverse young people experience mental health difficulties self-harm and suicidality at markedly higher rates than the general population, yet they often feel isolated from mental health services. There is little qualitative research on the experiences of trans and gender diverse young people accessing mental health support in Australia.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Health Youth Mental HealthApril 2020Associations between negative life experiences and the mental health of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia: Findings from Trans Pathways
The current results highlight the urgent need for better mental health care and provide insight into areas for targeted mental health interventions
Published research Youth Mental HealthApril 2020Mental Health Issues and Complex Experiences of Abuse Among Trans and Gender Diverse Young People: Findings from Trans Pathways
Those working in trans and gender diverse health care need to be aware of the high prevalence of violence and abuse among trans and gender diverse young people
Published research Youth Mental HealthMarch 2020Misgendering and experiences of stigma within health care settings for transgender individuals
Misgendering within the health care system can significantly affect the mental and physical health of transgender individuals
Published research Youth Mental HealthMarch 2020The Impact of Externally Worn Diabetes Technology on Sexual Behavior and Activity, Body Image, and Anxiety in Type 1 Diabetes
Wearable technologies impact upon sexual activity and this influences the decision to adopt the technology
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental HealthMarch 2020Women Migrants in Western Australia: Case Studies of Resilience and Empowerment
We propose that women migrants, through alliances and collaboration, cross borders of learning and work towards generating change and transformation
Published research Youth Mental HealthSeptember 2019Mental Health Correlates of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Gender Diverse Young People: Evidence from a Specialised Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic in Australia
Current findings indicate that gender diverse children and adolescents with indicated ASD comprise an especially vulnerable group at risk of mental health difficulties
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research 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 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 HealthJanuary 2018Feasibility of a commercial smartphone application for dietary assessment in epidemiological research and comparison with 24-h dietary recalls
Our study tested the relative validity of a smart phone app for uses as an epidemiological dietary assessment tool, compared with a standard assessment method.
Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Youth Mental Health Food and Nutrition -
Other Publications