Menzies' study named in ten best research projects
Menzies' study named in ten best research projects
A Menzies Research Institute Tasmania's research project into depression and anxiety in the workplace is one of the projects showcased in the Ten Best Research Projects for 2011, the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) flagship publication that will be launched today in Canberra.
A Menzies Research Institute Tasmania's research project into depression and anxiety in the workplace is one of the projects showcased in the Ten Best Research Projects for 2011, the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) flagship publication that will be launched today in Canberra.
The Ten of the Best Research Projects 2011 booklet profiles some of the work done by NHMRC-funded researchers who are leading the way in finding innovative solutions to some of our nation's greatest health challenges.
The Ten of the Best health and medical research projects for 2011 were chosen from among the thousands of NHMRC funded medical research projects underway in Australia today. They are picked on the basis of the strength of the science and significance of outcomes.
Dr Kristy Sanderson's research project into depression and anxiety in working adults found that people with depression may benefit more from participating in work rather than calling in sick.
Dr Kristy Sanderson said that being selected into the NHMRC Ten of the Best for 2011 publication is personally very gratifying.
"It's recognition that the research we are doing here at Menzies to deliver better outcomes for workers with depression is nationally significant, with real potential to change things for the better in Australian workplaces," Dr Sanderson said.
"The Mental Health Council of Australia estimates that each year a million Australian adults and 100,000 young people cope with depression. The majority have jobs and careers."
"Individuals who are working have two options when this arises. They can continue working while ill -"presenteeism" - or take an absence from work," she said.
"This study evaluated the economic cost and health outcomes of these two scenarios, using existing and published data to develop descriptive models."
"We considered "who pays" and "who benefits" from the perspective of the individual, their employer and society, to inform policy making, management practices and clinical care."
Acting Director of Menzies, Professor Alison Venn said that outstanding research like Dr Sanderson's is contributing towards building healthier lives around Australia.
"I congratulate Dr Sanderson and her team for this important work."
This work was undertaken with Menzies' PhD student Fiona Cocker and colleagues at Monash University (Prof Brian Oldenburg), Queensland University of Technology (Prof Nicholas Graves), and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (Prof Jan Nicholson).
You can view the Ten of the Best launch via webcast here
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