#198 – Professor Philip Batterham on Preventing and Understanding Drivers of Suicidal Behaviour

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Philip Batterham about advancing more efficient and precise methods for assessing suicidality and mental disorders.Philip Batterham is a Professor and Co-Head at the Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Phil is a research leader in improving access to evidence-based support for mental ill health and suicidal thoughts. He has specific interests in the etiology of suicidal behaviour, assessment of suicidality and mental disorders, implementation of online prevention programs, and reducing barriers to help seeking. Phil has published 320 journal articles and received >$50M in research funding as a Chief Investigator. He has received national and international awards for his research, including the Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research, the Professor Vera Morgan Medal for Mental Health Epidemiology, and the inaugural NHMRC Peer Review Excellence Award. He currently leads a major longitudinal cohort study to better understand transitions into suicidal behaviour.