Main Article Content

Abstract

In 2018, Every Mind responded to a lack of research into supports for carers of a person with depressive or anxiety symptoms, by designing, piloting, and implementing an online support program targeting these carers. Previous publications have documented several benefits of this research, such as the program’s feasibility, acceptability, and trends in efficacy. Although these results are promising, a deeper examination of the societal and economic significance of the research is warranted. The present study utilised the Framework to Assess the Impact from Translational Health Research (FAIT) and examined program documentation to retrospectively assess the benefits, costs and lessons learned from the Minds Together research. The results revealed that the benefits were widespread, particularly in capacity building. The economic analysis found a return on investment of over $80,000 AUD 2022. The study also emphasised the role of research centre staff in communicating and disseminating research findings. The retrospective application of FAIT to the Minds Together program proved feasible and has provided valuable insights. The present study highlights the comprehensive benefits of Minds Together beyond the trial outcomes reported in previous studies and emphasises the advantages of using health economics methodologies to examine the impacts of research targeting informal carers.

Keywords

mental health carer intervention health economics research impact measurement

Article Details

Author Biographies

Elloyse Fitzgeraldson, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights

Elloyse Fitzgeraldson recently completed her PhD in Public Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research focuses on supporting carers of a person with depressive or anxiety symptoms. Elloyse also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of New South Wales (2015) and extensive industry experience in family and community services, program evaluation and policy development in mental health promotion and suicide prevention.

Penny Reeves, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights

Penny Reeves is a Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia and Associate Director, leading the Health Economics and Impact team at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Penny has extensive industry and research experience as an applied health economist and health services researcher. Penny has a PhD (Health Economics) and Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Newcastle.  

Frances Kay-Lambkin, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights

Professor Kay-Lambkin is the Director of Hunter Medical Research Institute. She is an NHMRC Investigator Fellow, Director of Translation at the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, and Co-Director of the Mental Health Hub of the University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre in Brain and Mental Health. She leads an international team of researchers, clinicians and industry partners in the innovative development and translation of evidence-based treatments for comorbid mental and physical disorders.

Xenia Dolja-Gore, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, AustraliaHunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

Xenia Dolja-Gore is a Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Xenia is a biostatistician with extensive experience is health prevention and health services research. Xenia has a PhD (applied biostatistics)  from the University of New South Wales (2016) and extensive experience working on health related research using complex administrative health datasets to help understand health outcomes.

Finn Hamilton, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

Finn Hamilton is a trainee health economist working with the Health Economics and Impact team at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Finn has a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University.

Sally Fitzpatrick, Everymind, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights

Dr Sally Fitpatrick is a Program Manager at Everymind, a national institute dedicated to the prevention of mental ill-health and suicide. Sally is also a Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, and an Honorary Postdoctoral Researcher at Macquaie University. Sally is an Affiliated Researcher with the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), and an Affiliate Investigator with the Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (CRESP), a 5-year NHMRC funded program in suicide prevention research. Sally also holds a PhD and Master of Clinical Psychology from Macquarie University (2012), a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Hons) from Macquarie University (2003) and a Bachelor of Arts (Welfare) from Western Sydney University (1992).

How to Cite
Fitzgeraldson, E., Reeves, P., Kay-Lambkin, F., Dolja-Gore, X., Hamilton, F., & Fitzpatrick, S. (2023). Research Translation and Impact of a Program of Work to Support Carers of a Person with Depressive or Anxiety Symptoms. Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences, 6(4), 30–52. https://doi.org/10.33422/jarss.v6i4.1151