This unit is investigating the application of social and developmental psychological theories to mental health and wellbeing.

The Game Factory

Associate Professor Helen Street is involved in the ongoing evaluation and development of The Game Factory, a co-operative physical games program for children which has been established in more 500 Australian primary schools.

Additional studies are applying social psychology to mental and physical health through The Western Australian Applied Social Psychology Group (WAASP) co-founded in 2005 with Dr Moira O’Connor, exploring goal setting in older adults and perceptions of separation and divorce.

Developmental psychology

Associate Professor Kellie Bennett’s research interests have encompassed developmental psychology focussing on children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development; the links between spirituality and health, advances in teaching communication skills to university medical students; and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children.

In 2008 Professor Bennett and Zaza Lyons received an ‘Improving Student Learning’ grant for $3000 to develop digital resources to assist in the teaching of communication and consultation skills to medical students. She has a seeding research grant from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for $17,215 to investigate the relationship between religion and spirituality and mental health in Western Australians.

Primary care research

Zaza Lyons has a strong interest in primary care research and has undertaken studies in to the treatment and management of depression in general practice. She also has an interest in Indigenous health, particularly relating to substance use and mental disorders, and has conducted research into homelessness and alcohol and drug use with a particular focus on Indigenous issues in this area.

She has conducted major reviews of restrictions on the sale and supply of alcohol, alcohol and harm reduction strategies and on alcohol and drug prevention strategies for young people.