Dr Lou Farrer
PhD (Clinical Psychology)
Senior Research Fellow/DECRA Fellow
ANU College of Health and Medicine
Areas of expertise
- Mental Health 111714
- Public Health And Health Services 1117
- Health, Clinical And Counselling Psychology 170106
Research interests
- e-mental health
- Telehealth
- Prevention and treatment research
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- University student mental health
- Implementation science
Biography
Dr Lou Farrer is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research at The ANU. She currently holds an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) to examine how digital mental health interventions are implemented in clinical practice (2019-2024). Dr Farrer aims to use these and other data to help optimise the use of digital tools by practitioners in the Australian mental health care system. Dr Farrer's research has recently focused on the role of telehealth in mental health care.
Dr Farrer graduated with a PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2011. Her thesis examined the effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy among users of Lifeline’s crisis counselling service.
Dr Farrer’s primary research interests are in the development, evaluation, and implementation of technology-based mental health interventions and tools. Her research has focused on conducting trials of automated, online therapy programs targeting depression and anxiety disorders. As a clinically-trained researcher, Dr Farrer is interested in the intersection of technology, clinical service delivery, and research, namely, exploring different methods of supporting users of digital interventions, examining factors that predict response and adherence to these programs, and investigating models of disseminating and implementing online interventions in different settings.
Dr Farrer also has expertise in the mental health of higher education students, and currently leads a program of research involving the redevelopment and national evaluation of the Uni Virtual Clinic, and a longitudinal study examining the mental health trajectories of students transitioning to university.
Researcher's projects
- Use of telehealth and digital mental health tools in clinical practice
- Effectiveness of brief e-mental health interventions with university students
- Uni Virtual Clinic project
- ImpleMentAll project
- Suicide in university students project
- UniStart project
Available student projects
Telehealth use by mental health professionals during COVID-19
Implementation of digital tools among mental health professionals
E-mental health interventions for university students
Examining the mental health and wellbeing of university students
Current student projects
PhD students:
2019 - current: Isabelle Yujuico. Responses to suicide disclosure.
2020 - current: Hayley Jackson. Predicting and facilitating engagement with digital mental health interventions.
2021 - current: Jennifer Wheeler. Growing beyond trauma – promoting Post Traumatic Growth literacy and outcomes in cohorts exposed to trauma.
2022 - current: Karuna Nair. Social media and body image.
2023 - current: Andy Lyu. Suicide gate-keeper programs in low and middle income countries.
2022- current: Aarthi Ganapathy: Mental health professionals' use of technology.
Clinical Masters students:
2021 - current: Jessica Nguyen. Online or e-interventions for young people with borderline personality disorder or BPD features.
2022 - current: Shima Golmohammadi. Appearance and functionality writing tasks and body image.
Medical students:
2022 - current: Betina Ferreira. Predictors of functioning and academic self-efficacy in first year students transitioning to university.
Past student projects
2023 PhB student: Jessica Klose: "Positives and negatives of telehealth use".
2021 Medical student: Taliah Wysoke. "Examining helpseeking in a longitudinal cohort study of mental wellbeing in Australian university students as they transition to university".
2020 PhD candidate: Kathina Ali: "Help-seeking barriers and online peer-to-peer support for eating disorders".
2019 Public Health Hons candidate: Lachlan Viali: "Effectiveness of co-design in online mental health programs for depression"
2018 Masters of Public Health (Adv) candidate: Amelia Yazidjoglou: “Combining work and study: time and health trade-offs”
2018 PhD candidate: Marita Cooper: “Getting shredded: Improving our understanding of muscle dysmorphia and related symptomology”
2018 PhD candidate: Rebecca Randall: “I want to do something positive with my experiences” – An exploration of young people’s perspectives on their involvement in youth mental health research”.
Publications
- Batterham, P, Gulliver, A, Sunderland, M et al. 2023, 'Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 25, pp. 1-18.
- Farrer, L, Batterham, P, Gulliver, A et al. 2023, 'The Factors Associated With Telehealth Use and Avoidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Survey', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 25, pp. 1-10.
- Shou, Y, Farrer, L, Gulliver, A et al. 2023, 'Understanding Australian Government Risk Communication Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sociodemographics, Risk Attitudes and Media Consumption', Journal of Health Communication, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 254-263.
- Jackson, H, Calear, A, Batterham, P et al. 2023, 'Skill Enactment and Knowledge Acquisition in Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 25, pp. 1-23.
- Ali, K, Fassnacht, D, Farrer, L et al. 2022, 'Recruitment, adherence and attrition challenges in internet-based indicated prevention programs for eating disorders: lessons learned from a randomised controlled trial of ProYouth OZ', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 10, no. 1.
- Smithson, M, Shou, Y, Dawel, A et al. 2022, 'The Psychological Benefits of an Uncertain World: Hope and Optimism in the Face of Existential Threat', Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13.
- Batterham, P, Gulliver, A, Kurz, E et al. 2022, 'The Effect of Dissemination Pathways on Uptake and Relative Costs for a Transdiagnostic, Self-guided Internet Intervention for Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation: Comparative Implementation Study', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. e34769.
- Banfield, M, Shou, Y, Morse, A et al. 2022, 'Awareness and perceived helpfulness of mental health peer workers in a representative sample of the Australian public', Psychiatry Research Communications, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 1-5.
- Shou, Y, Smithson, M, Gulliver, A et al. 2022, 'Risk tolerance and changes in COVID-related health behaviors: A longitudinal study', Health Psychology, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 507-518.
- Batterham, P, Shou, Y, Farrer, L et al. 2022, 'Patterns and predictors of alcohol use during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Longitudinal cohort study', Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, vol. 46, no. 7, pp. 1248-1257.
- Farrer, L, Clough, B, Bekker, M et al. 2022, 'Telehealth use by mental health professionals during COVID-19', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 230-240.
- Shou, Y, Smithson, M, Gulliver, A et al. 2022, 'Risk Tolerance and Changes in Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Related Health Behaviors: A Longitudinal Study', Health Psychology, vol. 41, no. 8.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Shou, Y et al. 2022, 'Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal ideation in a representative Australian population sample: Longitudinal cohort study, Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 300, pp. 385-391.
- Karyotaki, E, Efthimiou, O, Miguel, C et al. 2021, 'Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Network Meta-analysis', JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 78, no. 4, pp. 361-371.
- Dawel, A, Shou, Y, Gulliver, A et al. 2021, 'Cause or Symptom? A Longitudinal Test of Bidirectional Relationships Between Emotion Regulation Strategies and Mental Health Symptoms', Emotion, vol. 21, no. 7, pp. 1511-1521.
- McCallum, S, Calear, A, Cherbuin, N et al. 2021, 'Associations of loneliness, belongingness and health behaviors with psychological distress and wellbeing during COVID-19', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 6, no. 100214, pp. 1-9.
- Calear, A, McCallum, S, Christensen, H et al. 2021, 'The Sources of Strength Australia Project: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-connectedness school-based program to promote help-seeking in adolescents', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 299, no. 2022, pp. 435-443.
- Leach, L, Butterworth, P, Poyser, C et al. 2017, 'Online recruitment: feasibility, cost, & representativeness in a study of postpartum women', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 19, no. 3.
- Calear, A, McCallum, S, Morse, A et al. 2022, 'Psychosocial impacts of home-schooling on parents and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic', BMC Public Health, vol. 22, no. 119, pp. 1-8.
- Morse, A, Banfield, M, Batterham, P et al. 2022, 'What could we do differently next time? Australian parents' experiences of the short-term and long-term impacts of home schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic', BMC Public Health, vol. 22, no. 80, pp. 1-9.
- Dawel, A, Shou, Y, Smithson, M et al. 2021, 'Corrigendum: The Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Wellbeing in a Representative Sample of Australian Adults', Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Sunderland, M et al. 2021, 'A brief intervention to increase uptake and adherence of an internet-based program for depression and anxiety (Enhancing Engagement with Psychosocial Interventions): Randomized controlled trial', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 23, no. 7.
- Gulliver, A, Calear, A, Sunderland, M et al. 2021, 'Predictors of acceptability and engagement in a self-guided online program for depression and anxiety', Internet Interventions, vol. 25.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, McCallum, S et al. 2021, 'Trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in a representative Australian adult cohort', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 214, no. 10, pp. 462-468.
- Furukawa, T, Suganuma, A, Ostinelli, E et al. 2021, 'Dismantling, optimising, and personalising internet cognitive behavioural therapy for depression: a systematic review and component network meta-analysis using individual participant data', The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 500-511.
- Gulliver, A, Banfield, M, Batterham, P et al. 2021, 'Effects of previous exposure to psychotherapeutic strategies on depression and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic', BJPsych Open, vol. 7, no. 1, e38.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Farrer, L et al. 2021, 'Efficacy of a Transdiagnostic Self-Help Internet Intervention for Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation in Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 23, no. 1.
- Gulliver, A, Calear, A, Sunderland, M et al. 2020, 'Consumer-Guided Development of an Engagement-Facilitation Intervention for Increasing Uptake and Adherence for Self-Guided Web-Based Mental Health Programs: Focus Groups and Online Evaluation Survey', JMIR Formative Research, vol. 4, e22528
- Dawel, A, Shou, Y, Smithson, M et al. 2020, 'The Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Wellbeing in a Representative Sample of Australian Adults', Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, 579985
- Ali, K, Fassnacht, D, Farrer, L et al. 2020, 'What prevents young adults from seeking help? Barriers toward help-seeking for eating disorder symptomatology', International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 894-906.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Katruss, N et al. 2020, 'Development of the Uni Virtual Clinic: an online programme for improving the mental health of university students', British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 333-346.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Katruss, N et al. 2019, 'A novel multi-component online intervention to improve the mental health of university students: Randomised controlled trial of the Uni Virtual Clinic', Internet Interventions, vol. 18, no. 0.
- Banfield, M, Farrer, L & Harrison, C 2019, 'Management or missed opportunity? Mental health care planning in Australian general practice', Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 332-338.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Gulliver, A et al. 2019, 'Efficacy of a transdiagnostic, video-based online program for reducing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in adults: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial', Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, vol. 14.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Sunderland, M et al. 2019, 'A brief intervention to increase uptake and adherence of an online program for depression and anxiety: Protocol for the Enhancing Engagement with Psychosocial Interventions (EEPI) Randomized Controlled Trial', Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 78, no. March 2019, pp. 107-115.
- Farrer, L, Walker, J, Harrison, C et al. 2018, 'Primary care access for mental illness in Australia: Patterns of access to general practice from 2006 to 2016', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 1-12pp.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Farrer, L et al. 2018, 'FitMindKit: Randomised controlled trial of an automatically tailored online program for mood, anxiety, substance use and suicidality', Internet Interventions, vol. 12, pp. 91-99pp.
- Gulliver, A, Farrer, L, Bennett, K et al. 2018, 'University staff experiences of students with mental health problems and their perceptions of staff training needs', Journal of Mental Health, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 247-256pp.
- Karyotaki, E, Kemmeren, L, Riper, H et al. 2018, 'Is self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) harmful? An individual participant data meta-analysis', Psychological Medicine, vol. 48, no. 15, pp. 2456-2466.
- Gulliver, A, Farrer, L, Bennett, K et al. 2017, 'University staff mental health literacy, stigma and their experience of students with mental health problems', Journal of Further and Higher Education, vol. Online.
- Karyotaki, E, Riper, H, Twisk, J et al. 2017, 'Efficacy of self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) in treatment of depressive symptoms: An individual participant data meta-analysis', JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 351-359pp.
- Leach, L, Butterworth, P, Poyser, C et al. 2017, 'Online Recruitment: Feasibility, Cost, and Representativeness in a Study of Postpartum Women', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 5pps.
- Ali, K, Farrer, L, Fassnacht, D et al. 2017, 'Perceived Barriers and Facilitators Towards Help-seeking for Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review', International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 9-21.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Bennett, K et al. 2016, 'Demographic and psychosocial predictors of major depression and generalised anxiety disorder in Australian university students', BMC Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 241, pp. 1-9.
- Chan, J, Farrer, L, Gulliver, A et al. 2016, 'University Students' Views on the Perceived Benefits and Drawbacks of Seeking Help for Mental Health Problems on the Internet: A Qualitative Study', JMIR Human Factors, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. e3.
- Karyotaki, E, Kleiboer, A, Smit, F et al. 2015, 'Predictors of treatment dropout in self-guided web-based interventions for depression: an 'individual patient data' meta-analysis', Psychological Medicine, vol. 45, no. 13, pp. 2717-2726.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Bennett, K et al. 2015, 'Exploring the acceptability of online mental health interventions among university teaching staff: Implications for intervention dissemination and uptake', Internet Interventions, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 359-365.
- Ali, K, Farrer, L, Gulliver, A et al 2015, 'Online peer to peer support for young people with mental health problems: a systematic review', JMIR Mental Health, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. e19-e19.
- Gulliver, A, Bennett, K, Bennett, A et al 2015, 'Privacy issues in the development of a virtual mental health clinic for university students: a qualitative study', JMIR Mental Health, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. e9-e9.
- Gulliver, A, Farrer, L, Chan, J et al. 2015, 'Technology-based interventions for tobacco and other drug use in university and college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 1-10pp.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Chan, J et al 2015, 'University Students’ Views on the Perceived Benefits and Drawbacks of Seeking Help for Mental Health Problems on the Internet: A Qualitative Study', JMIR Mental Health, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. e2-e2.
- Cunningham, J, Gulliver, A, Farrer, L et al. 2014, 'Internet Interventions for Mental Health and Addictions: Current Findings and Future Directions', Current Psychiatry Reviews, vol. 16, no. 12, pp. 521-521.
- van Spijker, B, Batterham, P, Calear, A et al. 2014, 'The Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS): Community-Based Validation Study of a New Scale for the Measurement of Suicidal Ideation', Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 408-419.
- Farrer, L, Griffiths, K, Christensen, H et al. 2014, 'Predictors of Adherence and Outcome in Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Delivered in a Telephone Counseling Setting', Cognitive Therapy and Research, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 358-367.
- Christensen, H, Farrer, L, Batterham, P et al. 2013, 'The effect of a web-based depression intervention on suicide ideation: Secondary outcome from a randomised controlled trial in a helpline', BMJ Open, vol. 3, no. 6.
- Farrer, L, Griffiths, K & Bennett, K 2013, 'Young and Well CRC', The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 32-35.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Chan, J et al. 2013, 'Technology-based interventions for mental health in tertiary students: Systematic review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. e101-e101.
- Batterham, P, Gulliver, A & Farrer, L 2013, Explainer: what is depression?, The Conversation
- Griffiths, K, Mackinnon, A, Crisp, D et al. 2012, 'The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 1-9.
- Farrer, L, Christensen, H, Griffiths, K et al. 2012, 'Web-Based cognitive behavior therapy for depression with and without telephone tracking in a national helpline: Secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 60-69.
- Farrer, L, Christensen, H, Griffiths, K et al. 2011, 'Internet-Based CBT for Depression with and without Telephone Tracking in a National Helpline: Randomised Controlled Trial', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 6, no. 11, pp. e28099-e28099.
- Burgess, N, Christensen, H, Griffiths, K et al. 2010, 'Recruitment challenges associated with a randomised controlled trial within a general telephone counselling service', Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. 409-413.
- Griffiths, K, Farrer, L & Christensen, H 2010, 'The efficiacy of internet interventions for depression and anxiety disorders: A review of randomised controlled trials', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 192, no. 11, pp. S4-S11.
- Christensen, H, Griffiths, K & Farrer, L 2009, 'Adherence in Internet interventions for anxiety and depression', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. e23.
- Farrer, L, Leach, L, Griffiths, K et al. 2008, 'Age differences in mental health literacy', BMC Public Health, vol. 8, no. 125, p. 8.
- Burgess, N, Christensen, H, Leach, L et al. 2008, 'Mental health profile of callers to a generalist telephone counselling service', Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 42-47.
- Griffiths, K, Farrer, L & Christensen, H 2007, 'Clickety-Click: e-mental health train on track', Australasian Psychiatry, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 100-108.
- Griffiths, K, Farrer, L & Christensen, H 2006, Effective treatments a click away, InPsych.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Cluster randomised controlled trial of a mental health education program in ACT primary schools (Secondary Investigator)
- Randomised controlled trial of a transdiagnostic online program to reduce the symptoms of mental illness in Australian tertiary students (Primary Investigator)
- Optimising digital mental health care: how is technology used in practice (Primary Investigator)
- Uni-screen: a comprehensive audit of mental health problems in ACT universities (Primary Investigator)
- Identifying the psychosocial conditions of 'work athome' caring for an infant - what are the potentiallinks with postnatal depression and anxiety? (Secondary Investigator)
- Keep it clever? Keep it healthy Piloting a new method to treat mental health problems in young people at university (Primary Investigator)
- A randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a fully-tailored adaptive intervention in reducing mental health symptoms among young people (Secondary Investigator)
- Young People, Technology and Wellbeing Cooperative Research Centre (Secondary Investigator)
