Mat Lucassen

Dr Mat Lucassen is a Reader in Mental Health at the School of Health and Medical Sciences, City, University of London, where he joined in January 2024. Previously, he was a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health at The Open University and maintains an Honorary Academic position at the University of Auckland. His work bridges clinical practice, research, and public engagement in youth mental health.

Mat Lucassen's research focuses on improving mental health outcomes for underserved populations, particularly LGBTQ+ youth and adolescents with depression. His work emphasizes accessible, evidence-based, and co-created interventions. He has been instrumental in advancing digital therapeutics, including the development and global evaluation of SPARX—a game-based cognitive behavioural therapy tool. His research also includes large-scale population studies through the Youth'2000 survey series and real-world clinical trials such as the TrACY study in collaboration with Harvard University.

His work has been supported by major funders including the New Zealand Ministry of Health, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and the UK Medical Research Council. Notably, he led the PRIDE Project, which co-created an online mental wellbeing resource for LGBTQ+ adolescents. While specific publications are not listed, his research output spans government reports, peer-reviewed articles, and digital health innovations with global impact.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (UK)
• OU Open Media Fellow (BBC-OU co-productions and OpenLearn)

Mat has extensive experience in research leadership, grant-funded projects, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He has supervised students and early-career researchers, particularly during his tenure at The University of Auckland and The Open University. His work often involves partnerships across institutions, including Harvard University and the University of Auckland’s Adolescent Health Research Group (AHRG).

He is actively involved in lab and research teams such as the SPARX core development team and the AHRG. His future work continues to focus on precision digital CBT, equitable access to mental health care, and scaling evidence-based interventions for youth globally.