Overview
Background
Associate Professor Meredith Harris is a researcher in the field of mental health services research and evaluation. She is a Principal Research Fellow with the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, based at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.
Meredith holds qualifications in psychology, policy and applied social research, and public health. She has over 25 years of experience in the management and administration of research projects, including systematic literature reviews, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, studies based on epidemiological survey data, and evaluations of health programs and interventions using observational, quasi-experimental and experimental research designs.
Meredith's current role is with the Analysis and Reporting Component of the Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network (AMHOCN), which leads the design, analysis and reporting of the National Outcomes and Casemix Collection (http://www.amhocn.org/). In this role, she is leading a range of projects designed to improve the measurement of patient- and service-level outcomes in Australia's specialised public sector mental health services.
Availability
- Associate Professor Meredith Harris is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, Macquarie University
- Masters (Coursework), Macquarie University
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, University of Sydney
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Investigating clinical and psychosocial outcomes of mental health treatment services and models
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Evaluating primary mental health care reforms
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Understanding population patterns of health service utilisation for mental health problems
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Using epidemiological and policy analyses to inform mental health service planning decisions
Research impacts
Meredith has led several major research projects that have directly informed mental health policy and service planning. For example, she undertook two empirical mental health planning studies that developed service planning targets for public sector mental health services and community support services funded by the Queensland government. The recommendations from these studies were taken up directly in the subsequent Queensland Mental Health Plan 2007-17 and informed the Queensland Department of Communities’ Supporting Recovery: Mental Health Community Services Plan 2011-2017.
She has led or contributed to a number of projects related to initiatives implemented under the National Mental Health Strategy. For example, she was an investigator on several components of a government-funded evaluation of the Better Access initiative; particularly, she led Component B which involved an in-depth analysis of patterns of use of mental health services delivered subsidised via the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The evaluation contributed evidence that has been widely used in ongoing national debate about access, equity and outcomes associated with this major national mental health reform, and informed refinements to the program guidelines.
Meredith’s research has involved novel applications of epidemiological survey data to answer policy-relevant questions about the performance of Australia’s mental health system. Using these data, for example, she published the first study to quantify minimally adequate treatment for affective and anxiety disorders in the Australian mental health system, the first published independent evaluation of a major primary mental health care initiative (the Better Access program), and the first study to examine the match between practice guideline recommendations and treatment of subthreshold depression in Australian primary care settings. Collectively, these studies have contributed to ongoing debates and efforts to understand the impact of policy and service impacts of measures of disease burden related to mental disorders.
Works
Search Professor Meredith Harris’s works on UQ eSpace
2011
Journal Article
Prediction of a single psychotic episode: A 7.5-year, prospective study in first-episode psychosis
Alvarez-Jimenez, M., Gleeson, J. F., Henry, L. P., Harrigan, S. M., Harris, M. G., Amminger, G. P., Killackey, E., Yung, A. R., Herrman, H., Jackson, H. J. and McGorry, P. D. (2011). Prediction of a single psychotic episode: A 7.5-year, prospective study in first-episode psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 115 (2-3), 236-246. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.10.020
2011
Conference Publication
Clinical indicators for routine use in the evaluation of early psychosis intervention: Development, training support, and inter-rater reliability
Catts, S. V., Frost, A. D., Neil, A. L., Evans, R. W., Crissman, R., Eadie, K., Carr, V. J., Lewin, T., O'Toole, B. I. and Harris, M. G. (2011). Clinical indicators for routine use in the evaluation of early psychosis intervention: Development, training support, and inter-rater reliability. 13th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICOSR), Colorado Springs CO, United States, 2-6 April 2011. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbq173
2011
Journal Article
Clinical indicators for routine use in the evaluation of early psychosis intervention: Development, training support and inter-rater reliability
Catts, Stanley V., Frost, Aaron, D. J., O'Toole, Brian I., Carr, Vaughan J., Lewin, Terry, Neil, Amanda L., Harris, Meredith G., Evans, Russell W., Crissman, Belinda R. and Eadie, Kathy (2011). Clinical indicators for routine use in the evaluation of early psychosis intervention: Development, training support and inter-rater reliability. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45 (1), 63-75. doi: 10.3109/00048674.2010.524621
2011
Journal Article
Employment-related information for clients receiving mental health services and clinicians
King, Joanne, Cleary, Catherine, Harris, Meredith G., Lloyd, Chris and Waghorn, Geoff (2011). Employment-related information for clients receiving mental health services and clinicians. Work, 39 (3), 291-303. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2011-1177
2011
Conference Publication
Quality of life as an outcome of psychosis: implications for recovery
Cotton, Sue M., Gleeson, J., Alvarez-Jimenez, M., Henry, L., Harris, M., Farrelly, S., Harrigan, S and McGorry, P. (2011). Quality of life as an outcome of psychosis: implications for recovery. 13th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICOSR), Colorado Springs CO, United States, 2-6 April 2011. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbq173
2010
Journal Article
Who cares? A profile of people who care for relatives with a mental disorder
Pirkis, Jane, Burgess, Philip, Hardy, Judy, Harris, Meredith, Slade, Tim and Johnston, Amy (2010). Who cares? A profile of people who care for relatives with a mental disorder. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44 (10), 929-937. doi: 10.3109/00048674.2010.493858
2010
Journal Article
The EPPIC follow-up study of first-episode psychosis: Longer-term clinical and functional outcome 7 years after index admission
Henry, LP, Amminger, GP, Harris, MG, Yuen, HP, Harrigan, SM, Prosser, AL, Schwartz, OS, Farrelly, SE, Herrman, H, Jackson, HJ and McGorry, PD (2010). The EPPIC follow-up study of first-episode psychosis: Longer-term clinical and functional outcome 7 years after index admission. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 71 (6), 716-728. doi: 10.4088/JCP.08m04846yel
2010
Journal Article
Reliability of a scale of work-related self-efficacy for people with psychiatric disabilities
Harris, Meredith, Gladman, Beverley, Hennessy, Nicole, Lloyd, Chris, Mowry, Bryan and Waghorn, Geoffrey (2010). Reliability of a scale of work-related self-efficacy for people with psychiatric disabilities. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 33 (2), 183-186. doi: 10.1097/MRR.0b013e32832e98b8
2010
Journal Article
Sudden death among young people with first-episode psychosis: An 8-10 year follow-up study
Robinson, J, Harris, M, Cotton, S, Hughes, A, Conus, P, Lambert, M, Schimmelmann, BG and McGorry, P (2010). Sudden death among young people with first-episode psychosis: An 8-10 year follow-up study. Psychiatry Research, 177 (3), 305-308. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.03.013
2010
Journal Article
A brief measure of vocational activity and community participation: Development and reliability of the Activity and Participation Questionnaire
Stewart, Gavin, Sara, Grant, Harris, Meredith, Waghorn, Geoffrey, Hall, Anna, Sivarajasingam, Siva, Gladman, Beverley and Mowry, Bryan (2010). A brief measure of vocational activity and community participation: Development and reliability of the Activity and Participation Questionnaire. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44 (3), 258-266. doi: 10.3109/00048670903487175
2010
Journal Article
Appraising evidence for intervention effectiveness in early psychosis: Conceptual framework and review of evaluation approaches
Catts, Stanley V., O'Toole, Brian I., Carr, Vaughan J., Lewin, Terry, Neil, Amanda, Harris, Meredith G., Frost, Aaron D. J., Crissman, Belinda R., Eadie, Kathy and Evans, Russell W. (2010). Appraising evidence for intervention effectiveness in early psychosis: Conceptual framework and review of evaluation approaches. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44 (3), 195-219. doi: 10.3109/00048670903487167
2010
Journal Article
Is a national framework for implementing early psychosis services necessary? Results of a survey of Australian mental health service directors
Catts, Stanley V., Evans, Russell W., O'Toole, Brian I., Carr, Vaughan J., Lewin, Terry, Neil, Amanda L., Harris, Meredith G., Frost, Aaron D. J., Crissman, Belinda R. and Eadie, Kathy (2010). Is a national framework for implementing early psychosis services necessary? Results of a survey of Australian mental health service directors. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 4 (1), 25-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2009.00157.x
2010
Journal Article
Temporal pattern of suicide risk in young individuals with early psychosis
Fedyszyn, Izabela E., Robinson, Jo, Matyas, Thomas, Harris, Meredith G. and Paxton, Susan J. (2010). Temporal pattern of suicide risk in young individuals with early psychosis. Psychiatry Research, 175 (1-2), 98-103. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2008.10.006
2010
Conference Publication
The EPPIC 800 study: The longer-term clinical and functional outcome of 93 individuals with first episode bipolar disorder
Henry, L. P., Berk, M., Harris, M. G., Cotton, S., Herrman, H., Jackson, H. and McGorry, P. D. (2010). The EPPIC 800 study: The longer-term clinical and functional outcome of 93 individuals with first episode bipolar disorder. 4th Biennial Conference of the International-Society-for-Bipolar-Disorders, Sao Paulo BRAZIL, MAR 17-20, 2010.
2010
Journal Article
The impact of smoking on clinical outcomes after first episode psychosis: Longer-term outcome findings from the EPPIC 800 follow-up study
Berk, M, Henry, LP, Elkins, KS, Harrigan, SM, Harris, MG, Herrman, H, Jackson, HJ and McGorry, PD (2010). The impact of smoking on clinical outcomes after first episode psychosis: Longer-term outcome findings from the EPPIC 800 follow-up study. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 6 (3-4), 212-234. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2010.537498
2010
Journal Article
Suicide attempt in first-episode psychosis: A 7.4 year follow-up study
Robinson, J, Harris, MG, Harrigan, SM, Henry, LP, Farrelly, S, Prosser, A, Schwartz, O, Jackson, H and McGorry, PD (2010). Suicide attempt in first-episode psychosis: A 7.4 year follow-up study. Schizophrenia Research, 116 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.10.009
2010
Journal Article
BRiTA futures: A resilience-building program for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds - Program description and preliminary findings
Mitchelson, Monique Rebekah, Erskine, Holly E., Ramirez, Elvia, Suleman, Farah, Prasad-Ildes, Rita, Siskind, Dan and Harris, Meredith (2010). BRiTA futures: A resilience-building program for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds - Program description and preliminary findings. Advances in Mental Health, 9 (3), 243-254. doi: 10.5172/jamh.9.3.243
2009
Journal Article
Is Early Intervention in Psychosis Cost-Effective Over the Long Term?
Mihalopoulos, C, Harris, M, Henry, L, Harrigan, S and McGorry, P (2009). Is Early Intervention in Psychosis Cost-Effective Over the Long Term?. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN, 35 (5), 909-918. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbp054
2009
Journal Article
The stability of correlates of labour force activity
Waghorn, G., Chant, D and Harris, MG (2009). The stability of correlates of labour force activity. ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, 119 (5), 393-405. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01303.x
2009
Journal Article
Labour market conditions, labour force activity and prevalence of psychiatric disorders
Waghorn, Geoff, Chant, David, Lloyd, Christine and Harris, Meredith G. (2009). Labour market conditions, labour force activity and prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 44 (3), 171-178. doi: 10.1007/s00127-008-0429-7
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Meredith Harris is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Mental Health Service Planning in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford, Dr Sandra Diminic
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Australian Mental Health Court Liaison Services: developing an approach to performance measurement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Philip Burgess
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the characteristics and service needs of carers for adults with mental illness to inform mental health service planning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Dan Siskind, Professor Harvey Whiteford
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Who receives what, from whom, and to what effect at clinically operated, community-based residential mental health rehabilitation for Severe and Persistent Mental Illness in Australia?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Dan Siskind, Professor Harvey Whiteford
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Decision-analytic modelling to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce the burden of major depression in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Cognitive remediation and social cognition interaction training:implementation and dessimination in a clinical setting
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Neal Ashkanasy, Dr Damian Santomauro, Professor Harvey Whiteford
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS): The performance of a major Australian primary mental health initiative
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford
Media
Enquiries
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