Professor Harvey Whiteford
Professor

Harvey Whiteford

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 3271 8684

Background

Professor Whiteford is a researcher at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. His research interests include psychiatric epidemiology, measurement of disease burden, mental health policy, and service reform.

Professor Whiteford trained in medicine, psychiatry and health policy at the University of Queensland, Stanford University and the Australian National University. He has held senior clinical and administrative positions, including those of Director of Mental Health in the Queensland and Federal governments in Australia. He worked for ten years on the design and implementation of Australia’s Mental Health Strategy and was Chairman of the Working Group which oversaw this initiative. He was appointed to the first mental health position in the World Bank in Washington DC with the task of developing the Bank’s capacity to respond to the rising global burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. He has worked as a consultant to national governments, the Commonwealth and State governments in Australia, the World Bank, and the World Health Organisation. Until July 2025, he was the Director of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.

Availability

Professor Harvey Whiteford is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Clinical sciences Health Sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Political Science, Australian National University
  • Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Faculty of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Faculty of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Search Professor Harvey Whiteford’s works on UQ eSpace

527 works between 1983 and 2026
All (527) Journal Article (417) Other Outputs (52) Conference Publication (44) Book Chapter (14)

1 - 20 of 527 works

2026

Journal Article

Associations between multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health in children

Zhou, Xiaoyun, Jia, Frank, Bambling, Matthew, Edirippulige, Sisira, Whiteford, Harvey and Lin, Jialing (2026). Associations between multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health in children. Journal of Affective Disorders, 393 (Part A) 120397, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120397

Associations between multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health in children

2025

Journal Article

Bullying victimisation and perpetration and the association with mental disorders among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Findings from the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys

Erskine, Holly E., Maravilla, Joemer C., Fine, Shoshanna L., Ramaiya, Astha, Li, Mengmeng, Wahdi, Amirah Ellyza, Wado, Yohannes Dibaba, Loi, Vu Manh, Whiteford, Harvey A., Lawrence, David, Thomas, Hannah J. and Scott, James G. (2025). Bullying victimisation and perpetration and the association with mental disorders among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Findings from the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19 (Supplement 1) 87, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s13034-025-00922-4

Bullying victimisation and perpetration and the association with mental disorders among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Findings from the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys

2025

Journal Article

Social support and mental health among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: A latent class analysis using the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys

Maravilla, Joemer C., Fine, Shoshanna L., Ramaiya, Astha, Li, Mengmeng, Wado, Yohannes Dibaba, Wahdi, Amirah Ellyza, Odunga, Sally Atieno, Nguyen, Vinh Duc, Whiteford, Harvey A., Lawrence, David, Scott, James G. and Erskine, Holly E. (2025). Social support and mental health among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: A latent class analysis using the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19 (S1) 85, SUPPL1. doi: 10.1186/s13034-025-00923-3

Social support and mental health among adolescents in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: A latent class analysis using the National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys

2025

Journal Article

Evaluating the effectiveness of crisis support spaces in Queensland, Australia: a mixed-methods study

Papinczak, Zoe E., Roovers, Hannah E., Patel, Mikesh, Postorivo, Danielle, McLellan, Meaghan E., Whiteford, Harvey A. and Rutherford, Zoe H. (2025). Evaluating the effectiveness of crisis support spaces in Queensland, Australia: a mixed-methods study. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 19 (1) 21, 21-1. doi: 10.1186/s13033-025-00678-6

Evaluating the effectiveness of crisis support spaces in Queensland, Australia: a mixed-methods study

2025

Journal Article

Taking a Strengths‐Based Approach to Mental Health in Rural Communities: What Is the Evidence for Harnessing Strengths?

Luebbe, Annika, Diminic, Sandra, Rutherford, Zoe, Roovers, Hannah, Patel, Mikesh and Whiteford, Harvey (2025). Taking a Strengths‐Based Approach to Mental Health in Rural Communities: What Is the Evidence for Harnessing Strengths?. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 33 (3) e70061, e70061-3. doi: 10.1111/ajr.70061

Taking a Strengths‐Based Approach to Mental Health in Rural Communities: What Is the Evidence for Harnessing Strengths?

2025

Other Outputs

Disparities in access to and utilisation of Medicare subsidised telehealth mental health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Southeast Queensland

Zhou, Xiaoyun, Smith, Anthony C., Nelson, Carmel, Suetani, Shuichi, Frazer, Randall (Bidjara Nation), Borton, Tamsyn, Potgieter, Rayno, Basit, Tabinda, Williams, Hayley (Gamilaroi nation), Liu, Yan, Zhang, Lihong, Hou, Xiang-Yu, Bainbridge, Roxanne (Gunggari/Kunja Nations), Whiteford, Harvey and Diminic, Sandra (2025). Disparities in access to and utilisation of Medicare subsidised telehealth mental health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Southeast Queensland. doi: 10.31234/osf.io/kjs42_v1

Disparities in access to and utilisation of Medicare subsidised telehealth mental health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Southeast Queensland

2025

Other Outputs

Factors associated with Medicare mental health services access and frequency of utilisation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children in Southeast Queensland

Zhou, Xiaoyun, Pagliaro, Claudia, Wailan, Manuel, Suetani, Shuichi, Basit, Tabinda, Frazer, Randall, Nelson, Carmel, Liu, Yan, Zhang, Lihong, Bainbridge, Roxanne, Hou, Xiang-Yu, Whiteford, Harvey and Diminic, Sandra (2025). Factors associated with Medicare mental health services access and frequency of utilisation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children in Southeast Queensland. doi: 10.31234/osf.io/2ydwx_v1

Factors associated with Medicare mental health services access and frequency of utilisation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children in Southeast Queensland

2025

Other Outputs

Patterns in the access, utilisation and budget allocation of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) psychosocial support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with mental health needs: a case study from Southeast Queensland

Zhou, Xiaoyun, Pagliaro, Claudia, Wailan, Manuel, Nelson, Carmel, Suetani, Shuichi, Frazer, Randall, Borton, Tamsyn, Potgieter, Rayno, Basit, Tabinda, Williams, Hayley, Liu, Yan, Zhang, Lihong, Hou, Xiang-Yu, Bainbridge, Roxanne, Whiteford, Harvey and Diminic, Sandra (2025). Patterns in the access, utilisation and budget allocation of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) psychosocial support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with mental health needs: a case study from Southeast Queensland. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6543013/v1

Patterns in the access, utilisation and budget allocation of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) psychosocial support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with mental health needs: a case study from Southeast Queensland

2025

Journal Article

The global epidemiology and health burden of the autism spectrum: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Santomauro, Damian F. (GBD 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborator), Erskine, Holly E. (GBD 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborator), Mantilla Herrera, Ana M. (GBD 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborator), Miller, Paul Anthony (GBD 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborator), Shadid, Jamileh (GBD 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborator), Hagins, Hailey, Addo, Isaac Yeboah, Adnani, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah, Ahinkorah, Bright Opoku, Ahmed, Ayman, Alhalaiqa, Fadwa Naji, Ali, Mohammed Usman, Al-Marwani, Sabah, Almazan, Joseph Uy, Almustanyir, Sami, Alvi, Farrukh Jawad, Amer, Yasser Sami Abdel Dayem, Ameyaw, Edward Kwabena, Amiri, Sohrab, Andrei, Catalina Liliana, Angappan, Dhanalakshmi, Antony, Catherine M., Aravkin, Aleksandr Y., Ashraf, Tahira, Ayuso-Mateos, Jose L., Barrow, Amadou, Batra, Kavita, Bemanalizadeh, Maryam, Bhagavathula, Akshaya Srikanth ... Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborators (2025). The global epidemiology and health burden of the autism spectrum: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Psychiatry, 12 (2), 111-121. doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(24)00363-8

The global epidemiology and health burden of the autism spectrum: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

2025

Book Chapter

Shaping national mental health policy

Whiteford, Harvey and Diminic, Sandra (2025). Shaping national mental health policy. Oxford textbook of community mental health. (pp. 333-340) edited by Graham Thornicroft, Robert E. Drake, Oye Gureje, Kim T. Mueser and George Szmukler. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med/9780198898818.003.0032

Shaping national mental health policy

2025

Journal Article

Correlates of mental disorder and harmful substance use in an indigenous Australian urban sample: an analysis of data from the Queensland Urban Indigenous Mental Health Survey

Basit, Tabinda, Toombs, Maree, Santomauro, Damian, Whiteford, Harvey and Ferrari, Alize (2025). Correlates of mental disorder and harmful substance use in an indigenous Australian urban sample: an analysis of data from the Queensland Urban Indigenous Mental Health Survey. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 60 (1), 201-213. doi: 10.1007/s00127-024-02648-8

Correlates of mental disorder and harmful substance use in an indigenous Australian urban sample: an analysis of data from the Queensland Urban Indigenous Mental Health Survey

2025

Journal Article

Person-centred crisis support services as alternatives to emergency departments: a systematic scoping review

Postorivo, Danielle, Parker, Stephen, Whiteford, Harvey, Papinczak, Zoe and Rutherford, Zoe (2025). Person-centred crisis support services as alternatives to emergency departments: a systematic scoping review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 60 (1), 25-37. doi: 10.1007/s00127-024-02776-1

Person-centred crisis support services as alternatives to emergency departments: a systematic scoping review

2024

Journal Article

Service coverage for major depressive disorder: estimated rates of minimally adequate treatment for 204 countries and territories in 2021

Santomauro, Damian F., Vos, Theo, Whiteford, Harvey A., Chisholm, Dan, Saxena, Shekhar and Ferrari, Alize J. (2024). Service coverage for major depressive disorder: estimated rates of minimally adequate treatment for 204 countries and territories in 2021. The Lancet Psychiatry, 11 (12), 1012-1021. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00317-1

Service coverage for major depressive disorder: estimated rates of minimally adequate treatment for 204 countries and territories in 2021

2024

Journal Article

Taking a strengths-based approach to mental health in rural communities: a systematic literature review

Luebbe, Annika, Rutherford, Zoe, Diminic, Sandra, Roovers, Hannah, Patel, Mikesh and Whiteford, Harvey (2024). Taking a strengths-based approach to mental health in rural communities: a systematic literature review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 48 (6) 100201, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100201

Taking a strengths-based approach to mental health in rural communities: a systematic literature review

2024

Journal Article

Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing

Teesson, Maree, Whiteford, Harvey, Bower, Marlee, Smout, Scarlett, Burgess, Philip, Harris, Meredith G., Pirkis, Jane, Diminic, Sandra, Baillie, Andrew, Slade, Tim and Chapman, Cath (2024). Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 59 (6), 48674241292961-492. doi: 10.1177/00048674241292961

Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing

2024

Journal Article

The global burden of suicide mortality among people on the autism spectrum: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and extension of estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Santomauro, Damian F., Hedley, Darren, Sahin, Ensu, Brugha, Traolach S., Naghavi, Mohsen, Vos, Theo, Whiteford, Harvey A., Ferrari, Alize J. and Stokes, Mark A. (2024). The global burden of suicide mortality among people on the autism spectrum: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and extension of estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Psychiatry Research, 341 116150, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116150

The global burden of suicide mortality among people on the autism spectrum: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and extension of estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

2024

Journal Article

Estimating levels of mental health service need by small geographic area: A case study for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in South East Queensland

Page, Imogen S., Pagliaro, Claudia, Ferrari, Alize J., Whiteford, Harvey and Diminic, Sandra (2024). Estimating levels of mental health service need by small geographic area: A case study for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in South East Queensland. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 48 (5) 100185, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100185

Estimating levels of mental health service need by small geographic area: A case study for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in South East Queensland

2024

Journal Article

Analysis of data items and gaps in Australia's national mental health services activity and capacity data collections for integrated regional service planning

Pagliaro, Claudia, Mundie, Arabella, Whiteford, Harvey and Diminic, Sandra (2024). Analysis of data items and gaps in Australia's national mental health services activity and capacity data collections for integrated regional service planning. Health Information Management Journal, 53 (3), 206-216. doi: 10.1177/18333583231175770

Analysis of data items and gaps in Australia's national mental health services activity and capacity data collections for integrated regional service planning

2024

Other Outputs

An independent evaluation of the Q-MOST pilot: Final report

Carpenter, M., Patel, M., Luebbe, A., Gadenne, K., Whiteford, H. and Rutherford, Z. (2024). An independent evaluation of the Q-MOST pilot: Final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/c588917

An independent evaluation of the Q-MOST pilot: Final report

2024

Journal Article

Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Ferrari, Alize J., Santomauro, Damian Francesco, Aali, Amirali, Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd ElHafeez, Samar, Abdelmasseh, Michael, Abd-Elsalam, Sherief, Abdollahi, Arash, Abdullahi, Auwal, Abegaz, Kedir Hussein, Abeldaño Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel, Aboagye, Richard Gyan, Abolhassani, Hassan, Abreu, Lucas Guimarães, Abualruz, Hasan, Abu-Gharbieh, Eman, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen ME, Ackerman, Ilana N, Addo, Isaac Yeboah, Addolorato, Giovanni, Adebiyi, Akindele Olupelumi, Adepoju, Abiola Victor, Adewuyi, Habeeb Omoponle, Afyouni, Shadi, Afzal, Saira, Afzal, Sina, Agodi, Antonella ... Murray, Christopher J L (2024). Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 2133-2161. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00757-8

Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Evaluation of the Staying Deadly Hubs
    Institute for Urban Indigenous Health
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Multidisciplinary co-design of innovative, client-centred models for Indigenous mental health services in South East Queensland
    NHMRC MRFF - Indigenous Health Research Grant
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Evaluation of the Queensland MOST Pilot Project
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Analysis of mental health service provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in South East Queensland
    Institute for Urban Indigenous Health
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Mental Health Community Support Services Evaluation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Nationally-representative population surveys of adolescent mental disorders in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2018
    ARP1711: Self-reported health of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel after use of anti-malarial drugs on deployment
    Department of Veterans' Affairs
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Collecting minimally sufficient data on child and adolescent mental health disorders in Indonesia
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Understanding the factors associated with Australian mental health carer's employment
    Mind Australia Carer Development Fund
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (HME), Global Public Goods: Global Burden of Disease (GBD), Forecasting, ... (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant admin. by the University of Washington)
    University of Washington (Seattle)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Alcohol and other drug treatment funding, purchasing and workforce: empirical analyses to inform policy (NHMRC Project Grant administered by the University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    The estimated value of informal care giving in mental health
    Mind Australia Carer Development Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Quantifying the burden of perinatal depression in Australia and New Zealand
    RANZCP Pat, Toni and Peter Kinsman Research Scholarship
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Mental and substance use disorders in the Global Burden of Disease Study (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant administered by University of Washington)
    University of Washington (Seattle)
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Updating estimates of service utilisation for mental disorders among Australian males
    Movember Foundation Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2018
    Centre for Research Excellence in Evidence-based Mental Health Planning: Translating Evidence into Policy and Services
    NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2008
    The prevalence and treated prevalence of mental health conditions in employees
    Department of Health and Ageing (Commonwealth of Australia)
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    WORK OUTCOMES RESEARCH COST-BENEFIT (WORC) PROJECT: (1) Rural data analysis (2) Evaluation of the impact of mental-physical health co-morbidity on employee productivity
    Department of Health and Ageing (Commonwealth of Australia)
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2012
    QCMHR Operational (Policy and Economics)
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2007
    Work outcomes research cost-benefit (WORC) project
    Department of Health and Ageing
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Mental health burden of illness research
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Professor mental health services research
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Strategic and Operational Planning Project
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Screening and treatment of depression in the labour force: Australian component of a multinational study
    Australian Rotary Health Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2003
    Screening and treatment of depression in the labour force
    Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    Mental Health Policy Research Project
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2001
    Analytical Studies on Mental Health Policy and Services
    Global Forum for Health Research
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Harvey Whiteford is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Architecture of Collaboration: A Systematic Review and Case Study Analysis of Effective Academic Health Research Partnerships in the Australian Context.

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mental Health Service Planning in Australia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Meredith Harris, Dr Sandra Diminic

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Harvey Whiteford directly for media enquiries about:

  • Health - mental health policy
  • Health - mental health services
  • Mental health policy
  • Mental health services
  • Policy - mental health
  • Services - mental health

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