Amanda Fitzgerald

Amanda Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at University College Dublin. She leads the UCD Youth Mental Health Lab and serves as Associate Editor for BMC Public Health. Her research focuses on youth mental health, resilience, risk factors, and technology-driven interventions. Key affiliations include roles in the International Association for Youth Mental Health and involvement in the My World Survey, a national study on adolescent mental health. She has pioneered programs like BodyKind, a school-based body image intervention, and conducted extensive work on social media impacts, sexual health disparities, and early intervention strategies.

Education: PhD (NUI Galway, 2010), BA (NUI Galway), Professional Certificates in University Teaching & Learning (UCD).

Research Highlights: Co-founded the My World Survey; developed culturally adapted BodyKind program; published on mental health trends, sexual victimization in students, and peer support interventions. Current projects include exploring digital technologies for youth mental health (Mood Movement grant).

Awards: First Runner Up for UCD Research Impact Case Study Competition (2019); YPii Best Use of Technology for Involvement Award (2022).

Grants: Mood Movement grants from ESRC and Irish Research Council (2020-2022).

Teaching: Coordinates modules on Youth Mental Health, Lifespan Development, and Psychological Research Dissertation.

Professional Activities: Member of Healthy UCD Steering Committee; contributed to policy initiatives on mental health stigma reduction and team-based early intervention services.