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
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
2019
Journal Article
The epidemiology of drug use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the WHO's World Mental Health Surveys
Degenhardt, Louisa, Bharat, Chrianna, Glantz, Meyer D., Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate, Lim, Carmen C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura H., Bromet, Evelyn J., Bruffaerts, Ronny, Bunting, Brendan, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Harris, Meredith G., He, Yanling, de Jonge, Peter, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges E., Kiejna, Andrzej, Lee, Sing, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Levinson, Daphna, Makanjuola, Victor, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando ... Kessler, Ronald C. (2019). The epidemiology of drug use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the WHO's World Mental Health Surveys. International Journal of Drug Policy, 71, 103-112. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.03.002
2019
Journal Article
Cross-national patterns of substance use disorder treatment and associations with mental disorder comorbidity in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
Harris, Meredith G., Bharat, Chrianna, Glantz, Meyer D., Sampson, Nancy A., Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Bruffaerts, Ronny, Caldas de Almeida, José Miguel, Cia, Alfredo H., De Girolamo, Giovanni, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Hinkov, Hristo, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Lee, Sing, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Levinson, Daphna, Makanjuola, Victor, McGrath, John, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José, Rapsey, Charlene, Tachimori, Hisateru, Ten Have, Margreet, Torres, Yolanda ... Degenhardt, Louisa (2019). Cross-national patterns of substance use disorder treatment and associations with mental disorder comorbidity in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Addiction, 114 (8) add.14599, 1446-1459. doi: 10.1111/add.14599
2019
Journal Article
Community based support for people at risk for suicide and those who care for them – areas for improvement
Finlayson-Short, Laura, Hetrick, Sarah, Krysinska, Karolina, Harris, Meredith, Salom, Caroline, Stefanac, Nina, Bailey, Eleanor and Robinson, Jo (2019). Community based support for people at risk for suicide and those who care for them – areas for improvement. Archives of Suicide Research, 24 (2), 1-33. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1619113
2019
Journal Article
A survey of people with lived experience of suicide-related behavior in Queensland, Australia: Their experiences with available resources
Finlayson-Short, Laura, Hetrick, Sarah, Krysinska, Karolina, Harris, Meredith, Salom, Caroline, Bailey, Eleanor and Robinson, Jo (2019). A survey of people with lived experience of suicide-related behavior in Queensland, Australia: Their experiences with available resources. Crisis, 41 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000602
2019
Journal Article
Employment disadvantage and associated factors for informal carers of adults with mental illness: are they like other disability carers?
Diminic, Sandra, Hielscher, Emily and Harris, Meredith G. (2019). Employment disadvantage and associated factors for informal carers of adults with mental illness: are they like other disability carers?. BMC Public Health, 19 (1) 587, 587. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6822-1
2019
Journal Article
Impact of the carer on length of hospital stay for mental health: Results from two Australian surveys
Hielscher, Emily, Diminic, Sandra, Harris, Meredith, Castle, David, Lee, Yong Yi, Kealton, Jan and Whiteford, Harvey (2019). Impact of the carer on length of hospital stay for mental health: Results from two Australian surveys. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28 (2), 436-447. doi: 10.1111/inm.12543
2019
Journal Article
Association of cohort and individual substance use with risk of transitioning to drug use, drug use disorder, and remission from disorder: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys
Degenhardt, Louisa, Bharat, Chrianna, Glantz, Meyer D., Sampson, Nancy A., Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura H., Bunting, Brendan, Cia, Alfredo, De Girolamo, Giovanni, De Jonge, Peter, Demyttenaere, Koen, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Harris, Meredith G., He, Yanling, Hinkov, Hristo, Karam, Aimee Nasser, Karam, Elie G., Kiejna, Andrzej, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lasebikan, Victor, Lee, Sing, Levinson, Daphna, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José ... Whiteford,Harvey (2019). Association of cohort and individual substance use with risk of transitioning to drug use, drug use disorder, and remission from disorder: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys. JAMA Psychiatry, 76 (7), 708-720. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0163
2019
Journal Article
Link-me: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a systematic approach to stepped mental health care in primary care
Fletcher, Susan, Chondros, Patty, Palmer, Victoria J., Chatterton, Mary Lou, Spittal, Matthew J., Mihalopoulos, Cathrine, Wood, Anna, Harris, Meredith, Burgess, Philip, Bassilios, Bridget, Pirkis, Jane and Gunn, Jane (2019). Link-me: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a systematic approach to stepped mental health care in primary care. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 78, 63-75. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.12.014
2019
Journal Article
Predictors of change in depressive symptoms over time: results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
Holden, Libby, Harris, Meredith, Hockey, Richard, Ferrari, Alize, Lee, Yong Yi, Dobson, Annette J. and Lee, Christina (2019). Predictors of change in depressive symptoms over time: results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 771-778. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.076
2019
Journal Article
Disordered eating among Australian adolescents: prevalence, functioning, and help received
Sparti, Claudia, Santomauro, Damian, Cruwys, Tegan, Burgess, Philip and Harris, Meredith (2019). Disordered eating among Australian adolescents: prevalence, functioning, and help received. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52 (3), 246-254. doi: 10.1002/eat.23032
2019
Journal Article
A systematic review of service models and evidence relating to the clinically operated community-based residential mental health rehabilitation for adults with severe and persisting mental illness in Australia
Parker, Stephen, Hopkins, Gordon, Siskind, Dan, Harris, Meredith, McKeon, Gemma, Dark, Frances and Whiteford, Harvey (2019). A systematic review of service models and evidence relating to the clinically operated community-based residential mental health rehabilitation for adults with severe and persisting mental illness in Australia. BMC Psychiatry, 19 (1) 55, 55. doi: 10.1186/s12888-019-2019-5
2019
Conference Publication
What Have We Learnt From More Than 20 Years of Clinically Operated Community-Based Residential Rehabilitation For Severe Mental Illness in Australia
Parker, S., Hopkins, G., Siskind, D., Harris, M., McKeon, G. and Dark, F. (2019). What Have We Learnt From More Than 20 Years of Clinically Operated Community-Based Residential Rehabilitation For Severe Mental Illness in Australia. RANZCP Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12-16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2019
Conference Publication
The cost, value and outcomes of phase of care in Australia's specialised public sector mental health services
Burgess, P., Coombs, T., Harris, M. and Dickson, R. (2019). The cost, value and outcomes of phase of care in Australia's specialised public sector mental health services. IHPA’s Activity Based Funding Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 13-15 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Adolescent-parent agreement on perceived need for and barriers to care. Or: how acceptable are adolescents’ mental health services?
Schnyder, N., Lawrence, D., Panczak, R., Sawyer, M., Whiteford, H., Burgess, P. and Harris, M. (2019). Adolescent-parent agreement on perceived need for and barriers to care. Or: how acceptable are adolescents’ mental health services?. 5th International Conference on Youth Mental Health , Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 26-28 October 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Have barriers to child and adolescent mental health care changed following Australian mental health reforms?
Schnyder, N., Sawyer, M., Lawrence, D., Panczak, R., Burgess, P. and Harris, M. (2019). Have barriers to child and adolescent mental health care changed following Australian mental health reforms? . Society for Mental Health Research, Melbourne, Australia, 27-29 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Phase of Care: have we got the building blocks right?
Burgess, P., Harris, M., Coombs, T. and Dickson, R. (2019). Phase of Care: have we got the building blocks right?. 7th Australasian Mental Health Outcomes and Information Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 30 October-1 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Consumer-reported outcome measures: why bother asking?
Harris, M., Burgess, P., Arnautovska, U., Woody, C. and Coombs, T. (2019). Consumer-reported outcome measures: why bother asking?. 7th Australasian Mental Health Outcomes and Information Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 30 October-1 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Mental Health Outcomes: Australia’s specialised public sector mental health services
Burgess, P. and Harris, M. (2019). Mental Health Outcomes: Australia’s specialised public sector mental health services. International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) Mental Health Metrics Match, Washington, DC, United States, 9-10 September 2019.
2018
Conference Publication
Disordered eating among adolescents: findings from the Young Minds Matter Survey
Sparti, Claudia, Santomauro, Damian, Cruwys, Tegan, Burgess, Philip and Harris, Meredith (2018). Disordered eating among adolescents: findings from the Young Minds Matter Survey. Society for Mental Health Research, Noosa, QLD Australia, 28 - 30 November 2018.
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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