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Issue 2
In this issue...
Find out who some of the fantastic keynote speakers will be at the upcoming ISRII Conference, meet our current ISRII President and learn about a brand-new mentoring initiative we have planned!
Do you have something you want promoted in the newsletter? Just get in touch at info@isrii.org.
ISRII12 Scientific Conference
The ISRII Board and Conference Committee are looking forward to welcoming you to Limerick in June for ISRII12! Register before March 31, to take advantage of Early-bird rates!
We are excited to announce some of our keynote speakers...stay tuned for information on more of our speakers in future issues.
Day 1 featured speakers
Professor Lee Ritterband
Lee Ritterband, Ph.D., is the Jean and Ronald Butcher Eminent Scholars Professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Technology. With degrees in clinical psychology and computer technology, Dr. Ritterband specializes in the development and testing of behaviorally-based digital health interventions. In 2004, he also co-founded the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions.
Professor Gerhard Andersson
Dr. Gerhard Andersson is full professor of Clinical Psychology at Linköping University in the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, affiliated researcher at Karoliniska Institutet, Stockholm, and clinically active as psychologist at the local hearing clinic. Andersson has a PhD in psychology and one in medicine and is trained as CBT therapist and supervisor. Professor Andersson is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of cognitive-behavior therapy delivered through information and communication technology. His research spans over both somatic and psychiatric conditions. Andersson is also the editor-in-chief for the journal Internet Interventions and was one of the founders of ISRII and took the initiative for the first meeting in 2004.
Professor Heleen Riper
Professor Heleen Riper is a full professor of eMental-Health (clinical psychology) at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Over the past 20 years her research focus has been on the development, evaluation, and implementation of digital interventions for mental disorders such depression, anxiety, and problem drinking and especially those based on cognitive behavioral therapy. These interventions span technologies ranging from internet interventions, mobile health applications, web-based video-conferencing and virtual reality. The scope of Professor Riper’s current research activities includes the evaluation of mobile health and ‘blended’ treatments for depression and anxiety in specialized mental health care services. In 2013 Professor Riper (co) founded the Journal of Internet Interventions.
Professor Helen Christensen
Scientia Professor Helen Christensen (AO) is Scientia Professor of Mental Health at UNSW Sydney and Board Director of Black Dog Institute. She is the former Executive Director and Chief Scientist at Black Dog Institute, having led the organization from 2011 to 2021. Professor Christensen is an international recognized expert on using technology to deliver evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm. Her research also encompasses prevention of mental health problems in young people through school-based and e-health interventions.
Meet the ISRII Board of Directors
This issue we spoke to ISRII President Terry Flemming.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Kia ora! I’m an Associate Professor in the School of Health at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University Wellington, my professional background is in youth mental health, working with adolescents and families in underserved communities.
Can you tell us about your main area of research and the projects you have been involved with?
I'm passionate about improving youth mental health and reducing inequities via scalable approaches, particularly via the use of appealing and effective digital tools with diverse communities. I co-developed SPARX computerized CBT which is uses a 'bi-centric frame of reference' and a game-format. That is now freely available in New Zealand and is being tested and build upon globally. I'm completing a project in which found we can successfully embed links to digital health tools from within a comprehensive health survey, in order to ensure that those who take part in research have increased opportunities for help with problems explored in the research. It also allows nuanced examination of who does and does not elect to access digital health options. I'm currently working on a waitlist intervention project which endeavours to integrate the sense of a 'warm hand-over' and personalized introduction to short timely digital supports, and I am exploring opportunities for a digital mental health clinic which has not really been tried in New Zealand. After the ISRII conference this year, I will be on sabbatical and hope to explore some of these areas with ISRII members in a number of countries.
What do you like most about being involved with ISRII?
I love the welcoming, inclusive and non-hierarchical nature of ISRII. Research can be lonely. Connecting with and learning from others helps keep us dynamic and effective. As president I'm excited to work with the Board and members to build on this, with increased communications (eg these newsletters), increased SIG and other online events, strengthening our support for early career researchers, and increasing how well ISRII supports equity and inclusion across diverse populations. We are working with a management company to help consolidate and grow ISRII and look forward to discussing draft plans with members at the conference and online.
Peer connection and mentoring program
Looking for more connection in-between conferences? Eager to chat one-on-one with an ISRII member outside of your home institution/organization for guidance, support, or accountability?
On this form, you'll be asked to indicate if you're looking to match with someone to meet for 1-3 times total (for specific guidance or support) or to potentially establish an ongoing relationship by being open to a monthly 30-minute meeting for about 6 months. Once your match is made, we will provide guidance on how you can get the most out of this program.
The ISRII I-SIG presents Webinar #2.
In this webinar our speakers will share their expertise and knowledge in developing and delivering digital mental health services in routine care. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion.
Our presenters and presentation titles include:
Jennifer Nicholas, PhD, Australia.
Willingness high, knowledge low: digital implementation in youth mental health services.
Kristofer Vernmark, PhD, MSc, Sweden.
Lessons from the Field: ICBT implementation in four Swedish Healthcare Regions.
Derek Richards, PhD, Ireland.
Implementing a National Digital CBT Service in Ireland.
Jennifer Nicholas, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow within the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, and Orygen Digital. She leads an innovative research program focused on how digital interventions can support youth mental health systems. Jen works in the implementation space across interventions that harness the internet, smartphones, and virtual reality to support young people with mental health difficulties.
Kristofer Vernmark, PhD. MSc, is a researcher at Linköping University currently examining the implementation of digital tools for mental health problems in refugees and migrants. Kristofer has had a leading role in making internet-based treatment available in the Swedish primary care system. Kristofer is the founder of the Association for Digital Psychologists in Sweden, the author of several books about digital psychology and was recently awarded the 2022 eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) award for Leadership excellence in eMental health implementation.
Derek Richards, PhD, leads the strategic research for SilverCloud by Amwell. Since 2005, he has been extensively involved in clinical research, development, and implementation of technology-delivered interventions for mental health. Over the last 15 years, Derek has built a team of world-class scientists whose published work is cited widely and whose impact has spearheaded continued innovation in digital mental health care. Since SilverCloud's acquisition by Amwell in 2021, Derek has led the broader research initiatives to deliver impact, value, and outcomes research across Amwell’s diverse product solutions.
Nick Titov, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at Macquarie University, Australia, and Founding Executive Director of the Australian MindSpot Clinic.
This webinar will be recorded and available to registrants after the session.
For more information about ISRII, please visit ISRII.org
International Society for Research on Internet Interventions 6728 Old McLean Village Drive McLean, VA 22101 www.isrii.org
