Alison Calear

Alison Calear is a Professor and Co-Head of the Centre for Mental Health Research at The Australian National University (ANU), College of Health & Medicine. She holds a prominent position with the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (CRESP), where she leads the School Stream and heads the Child, Youth and Family Mental Health and Suicide Prevention research unit.

Her academic credentials include a BAppPsych (Hons) and PhD. She maintains prestigious NHMRC Fellowships and currently leads an NHMRC Investigator Grant specifically focused on youth suicide prevention, demonstrating her standing as a leading researcher in Australian mental health.

Professor Calear's research spans several critical domains with particular emphasis on youth mental health, digital mental health interventions, and the prevention and early intervention of anxiety, depression, suicide, and self-harm. Her work bridges research and practical application, with extensive experience developing and evaluating prevention programs in school settings and for parents/caregivers of youth at risk. She has developed significant expertise in help-seeking behavior and mental health literacy, with a strong focus on reducing stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Analysis of her recent publication record reveals a strong focus on community-based suicide prevention models, school mental health programs, and digital tools to improve access to mental health services. Her research employs diverse methodologies including randomized controlled trials, qualitative studies, and population-based cohort analyses, demonstrating methodological rigor across multiple approaches.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• NHMRC Fellow
• NHMRC Investigator Grant recipient

Professor Calear leads multiple significant research projects including the evaluation of the 'Recognise, Respond and Support - A Parent's Guide to Youth Mental Health' resource, the LifeSpan suicide prevention model evaluation (Australia's largest ever suicide prevention trial), and various school-based mental health education programs. She has secured substantial competitive funding for her research through NHMRC and other research councils.

She is actively involved in research teams focused on suicide prevention, digital mental health, and youth mental health. Her work with CRESP involves collaboration across multiple Australian institutions to reduce suicide rates through evidence-based approaches. She also serves as Treasurer of the Society for Mental Health Research and holds a Visiting Professorial Fellowship at the University of New South Wales.