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
2021
Journal Article
Implementing child and youth mental health services: early lessons from the Australian Primary Health Network Lead Site Project
Oostermeijer, Sanne, Bassilios, Bridget, Nicholas, Angela, Williamson, Michelle, Machlin, Anna, Harris, Meredith, Burgess, Philip and Pirkis, Jane (2021). Implementing child and youth mental health services: early lessons from the Australian Primary Health Network Lead Site Project. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 15 (1) 16, 16. doi: 10.1186/s13033-021-00440-8
2021
Journal Article
Service demand for psychological interventions among Australian adults: a population perspective
Page, Imogen S., Sparti, Claudia, Santomauro, Damian and Harris, Meredith G. (2021). Service demand for psychological interventions among Australian adults: a population perspective. BMC Health Services Research, 21 (1) 98, 98. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06101-3
2021
Conference Publication
Reporting Mental Health Outcomes for Indigenous Consumers. The Results of Routinely Collecting Indigenous Status
Coombs, T., Burgess, P. and Harris, M. (2021). Reporting Mental Health Outcomes for Indigenous Consumers. The Results of Routinely Collecting Indigenous Status. The Mental Health Services Perth Virtual Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 9-12 February 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
What if I don’t perform the way I expected? Clinician anxiety about patient reported outcomes
Coombs, T., Burgess, P. and Harris, M. (2021). What if I don’t perform the way I expected? Clinician anxiety about patient reported outcomes. The Mental Health Services Perth Virtual Conference , Perth, WA, Australia, 9-12 February 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Big Data In Mental Health: What Insights Can Data Mining And Machine Learning Provide?
Coombs, T., Burgess, P. and Harris, M. (2021). Big Data In Mental Health: What Insights Can Data Mining And Machine Learning Provide? . The Mental Health Services Perth Virtual Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 9-12 February 2021.
2020
Book Chapter
Advancing knowledge in mental health care
McDermott, F., Happell, B., Meadows, G., Fossey, E., Sundram, S., Shawyer, F., Favilla, A., McNab, C., Inder, B., Wadsworth, Y., Grey, F., Pinches, A., Bassilios, B., Harris, M., Burgess, P., Pirkis, J. and Klaic, K. (2020). Advancing knowledge in mental health care. Mental health and collaborative community practice. An Australian perspective. (pp. 1.4-+) edited by Graham Meadows, John Farhall, Ellie Fossey, Brenda Happell, Fiona McDermott, Sebastian Rosenberg, Vrinda Edan, Merinda Epstein, Hamilton Kennedy and Cath Roper. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
2020
Journal Article
Barriers to mental health care for Australian children and adolescents in 1998 and 2013–2014
Schnyder, Nina, Sawyer, Michael G., Lawrence, David, Panczak, Radoslaw, Burgess, Philip and Harris, Meredith G. (2020). Barriers to mental health care for Australian children and adolescents in 1998 and 2013–2014. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54 (10), 1007-1019. doi: 10.1177/0004867420919158
2020
Journal Article
Comorbidity within mental disorders: a comprehensive analysis based on 145 990 survey respondents from 27 countries
McGrath, J. J., Lim, C. C. W., Plana-Ripoll, O., Holtz, Y., Agerbo, E., Momen, N. C., Mortensen, P. B., Pedersen, C. B., Abdulmalik, J., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Bromet, E. J., Bruffaerts, R., Bunting, B., de Almeida, J. M. C., de Girolamo, G., De Vries, Y. A., Florescu, S., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., Harris, M. G., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., Kawakami, N., Kiejna, A., Kovess-Masfety, V., Lee, S., Mneimneh, Z. ... de Jonge, P. (2020). Comorbidity within mental disorders: a comprehensive analysis based on 145 990 survey respondents from 27 countries. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29 e153, e153. doi: 10.1017/s2045796020000633
2020
Journal Article
Findings from world mental health surveys of the perceived helpfulness of treatment for patients with major depressive disorder
Harris, Meredith G., Kazdin, Alan E., Chiu, Wai Tat, Sampson, Nancy A., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Altwaijri, Yasmin, Andrade, Laura Helena, Cardoso, Graça, Cía, Alfredo, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Oladeji, Bibilola D., O'Neill, Siobhan, Scott, Kate, Slade, Tim, Torres, Yolanda, Vigo, Daniel, Wojtyniak, Bogdan, Zarkov, Zahari, Ziv, Yuval and Kessler, Ronald C. (2020). Findings from world mental health surveys of the perceived helpfulness of treatment for patients with major depressive disorder. JAMA Psychiatry, 77 (8), 830-841. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1107
2020
Journal Article
Predictors of unplanned discharge from community-based residential mental health rehabilitation for people affected by severe and persistent mental illness
Arnautovska, Urska, McKeon, Gemma, Dark, Frances, Siskind, Dan, Harris, Meredith and Parker, Stephen (2020). Predictors of unplanned discharge from community-based residential mental health rehabilitation for people affected by severe and persistent mental illness. Journal of Mental Health, 30 (4), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2020.1755025
2020
Journal Article
Quantifying the size of the informal care sector for Australian adults with mental illness: caring hours and replacement cost
Diminic, Sandra, Lee, Yong Yi, Hielscher, Emily, Harris, Meredith G., Kealton, Jan and Whiteford, Harvey A. (2020). Quantifying the size of the informal care sector for Australian adults with mental illness: caring hours and replacement cost. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56 (3), 387-400. doi: 10.1007/s00127-020-01868-y
2020
Journal Article
Investment in Australian mental health carer services: how much and does it reflect evidence of effectiveness?
Schess, Jaclyn, Diminic, Sandra, Hielscher, Emily, Harris, Meredith G., Lee, Yong Yi, Kealton, Jan and Whiteford, Harvey A. (2020). Investment in Australian mental health carer services: how much and does it reflect evidence of effectiveness?. Australian Health Review, 44 (1), 104-113. doi: 10.1071/AH18065
2020
Journal Article
Community-care unit model of residential mental health rehabilitation services in Queensland, Australia: predicting outcomes of consumers 1-year post discharge
Parker, S., Arnautovska, U., Siskind, D., Dark, F., McKeon, G., Korman, N. and Harris, M. (2020). Community-care unit model of residential mental health rehabilitation services in Queensland, Australia: predicting outcomes of consumers 1-year post discharge. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29 e109, 1-11. doi: 10.1017/s2045796020000207
2020
Other Outputs
National Mental Health Research Strategy Background Paper: Health Services Research and Implementation Science
Harris, Meredith (2020). National Mental Health Research Strategy Background Paper: Health Services Research and Implementation Science.
2020
Journal Article
Perceived helpfulness of treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys
Stein, Dan J., Harris, Meredith G., Vigo, Daniel V., Tat Chiu, Wai, Sampson, Nancy, Alonso, Jordi, Altwaijri, Yasmin, Bunting, Brendan, Caldas-de-Almeida, José Miguel, Cía, Alfredo, Ciutan, Marius, Degenhardt, Louisa, Gureje, Oye, Karam, Aimee, Karam, Elie G., Lee, Sing, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Posada-Villa, José, Rapsey, Charlene, Torres, Yolanda, Carmen Viana, Maria, Ziv, Yuval and Kessler, Ronald C. (2020). Perceived helpfulness of treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys. Depression and Anxiety, 37 (10) da.23076, 972-994. doi: 10.1002/da.23076
2019
Journal Article
A comprehensive cohort description and statistical grouping of community-based residential rehabilitation service users in Australia
Parker, Stephen, Siskind, Dan, Hermens, Daniel F., Dark, Frances, McKeon, Gemma, Korman, Nicole, Arnautovska, Urska, Harris, Meredith and Whiteford, Harvey (2019). A comprehensive cohort description and statistical grouping of community-based residential rehabilitation service users in Australia. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10 798, 798. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00798
2019
Journal Article
A mixed methods evaluation of an integrated adult mental health service model
Beere, Diana, Page, Imogen S., Diminic, Sandra and Harris, Meredith (2019). A mixed methods evaluation of an integrated adult mental health service model. BMC Health Services Research, 19 (1) 691, 691. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4501-7
2019
Journal Article
Burden of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Gouda, Hebe N., Charlson, Fiona, Sorsdahl, Katherine, Ahmadzada, Sanam, Ferrari, Alize J., Erskine, Holly, Leung, Janni, Santamauro, Damian, Lund, Crick, Aminde, Leopold Ndemnge, Mayosi, Bongani M., Kengne, Andre Pascal, Harris, Meredith, Achoki, Tom, Wiysonge, Charles S., Stein, Dan J. and Whiteford, Harvey (2019). Burden of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet Global Health, 7 (10), e1375-e1387. doi: 10.1016/s2214-109x(19)30374-2
2019
Journal Article
Perceived need and barriers to adolescent mental health care: agreement between adolescents and their parents
Schnyder, N., Lawrence, D., Panczak, R., Sawyer, M. G., Whiteford, H. A., Burgess, P. M. and Harris, M. G. (2019). Perceived need and barriers to adolescent mental health care: agreement between adolescents and their parents. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29 e60, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/S2045796019000568
2019
Journal Article
Caring hours and possible need for employment support among primary carers for adults with mental illness: results from an Australian household survey
Diminic, Sandra, Hielscher, Emily and Harris, Meredith G. (2019). Caring hours and possible need for employment support among primary carers for adults with mental illness: results from an Australian household survey. Health and Social Care in the Community, 27 (5) hsc.12811, e837-e849. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12811
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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