Mental illness takes its toll with professionals in short supply comes at a time when universities eastern states did, and now those Obesity, heart disease and cancer are across Australia are closing down states have the ready access to the the illnesses that we know are taking a psychology professional training tools but we don’t. toll on Australians. programs because reductions in funding over the past decade have made them is no blame being laid, but the “There But mental illness is also rife, although too expensive to run, while meeting the fact is that most local MRI machines are less publicised. required national accreditation in constant clinical use and not standards. available for research. We can get One in two Australians will access late at night or on a Sunday but experience a mental health disorder A broader challenge facing the field when you need the technology as a in their lifetime. Less than half of that affects the training of both teaching resource, that just doesn’t those who do will receive appropriate professional and research work.” support and treatment. psychologists is the rapid growth in brain imaging technologies that have Professor Badcock has a Left untreated, mental health transformed the ability to appointment with the University of problems often get worse, affecting view which brain regions are active in Nottingham, whose Psychology every aspect of a person’s life and particular tasks, and to determine which department has access to four creating regions are functioning differently in scanners for human imaging and two a significant economic burden on the clinical conditions. for animal imaging, primarily for Australian community. research. research which will translate “New Projections by the National Mental into improved clinical practice needs this technology shortfall, “Despite Health Commission are that, if we the latest technology, including our School has been ranked number continue at this same rate, the mental functional Magnetic Resonance 31 in the QS World University health system will require at least 8,800 Imaging (MRI) machines, which are Rankings. Psychology is the highest additional mental health professionals very expensive,” he said. ranking School at UWA. over the next 15 years. Western Australian State we continue to lobby for more “The “But Government and research institutions adequate funding for the research Badcock, Winthrop Professor initially didn’t get into the race’ for tools and student training costs ‘arms in Psychology and ARC Australian neuroscience research as many in the required to help us address the Professorial Fellow, says this prediction almost
Mental illness takes its toll with professionals in short supply Obesity, heart disease and cancer are the illnesses that we know are taking a toll on Australians. But mental illness is also rife, although less publicised. One in two Australians will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Less than half of those who do will receive appropriate support and treatment. Left untreated, mental health problems often get worse, affecting every aspect of a person’s life and creating a significant economic burden on the Australian community. Projections by the National Mental Health Commission are that, if we continue at this same rate, the mental health system will require at least 8,800 additional mental health professionals over the next 15 years. Badcock, Winthrop Professor in Psychology and ARC Australian Professorial Fellow, says this prediction comes at a time when universities across Australia are closing down psychology professional training programs because reductions in funding over the past decade have made them too expensive to run, while meeting the required national accreditation standards. A broader challenge facing the field that affects the training of both professional and research psychologists is the rapid growth in brain imaging technologies that have transformed the ability to view which brain regions are active in particular tasks, and to determine which regions are functioning differently in clinical conditions. “New research which will translate into improved clinical practice needs the latest technology, including functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, which are very expensive,” he said. “The Western Australian State Government and research institutions initially didn’t get into the ‘arms race’ for neuroscience research as many in the eastern states did, and now those states have the ready access to the tools but we don’t. “There is no blame being laid, but the fact is that most local MRI machines are in constant clinical use and not available for research. We can get access late at night or on a Sunday but when you need the technology as a teaching resource, that just doesn’t work.” Professor Badcock has a appointment with the University of Nottingham, whose Psychology department has access to four scanners for human imaging and two for animal imaging, primarily for research. “Despite this technology shortfall, our School has been ranked number 31 in the QS World University Rankings. Psychology is the highest ranking School at UWA. “But we continue to lobby for more adequate funding for the research tools and student training costs required to help us address the almost
Issue-04-June-2014-UWAnews-doc.docx