Dr Lou Farrer
PhD (Clinical Psychology)
Senior Research Fellow/DECRA Fellow
College of Health & Medicine
Areas of expertise
- Mental Health 111714
- Public Health And Health Services 1117
Research interests
- e-Mental health
- Prevention and treatment research
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Use of technology in mental health care
- 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 used in clinical practice (2019-2023). Dr Farrer aims to use these and other data to develop guidelines to optimise the use of digital tools by practitioners in the Australian mental health care system.
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 programs. 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. She is also interested in the mental health of university students, having recently completed a project funded by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre to develop and evaluate a virtual mental health clinic designed specifically for tertiary student populations (The Uni Virtual Clinic).
Researcher's projects
- Use of digital mental health tools and telehealth in clinical practice
- Effectiveness of brief e-mental health interventions with university students
- Uni Virtual Clinic project
- ImpleMentAll project
- Suicide in university students project
Current student projects
2014 - current: Kathina Ali. An effectiveness study of the benefits of online peer-to-peer support for young people at risk for eating disorders: ProYouth Oz.
2019 - current: Isabelle Yujuico. Responses to suicide disclosure.
Past student projects
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, pp. 1-8.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 2017, 'University staff mental health literacy, stigma and their experience of students with mental health problems', Journal of Further and Higher Education, vol. Online.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Farrer, L., Gulliver, A., Chan, J., Batterham, P.J., Reynolds, J., Calear, A., Tait, R., Bennett, K., Griffiths, K. M. (2013). Technology-based interventions for mental health in tertiary students: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(5): e101.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Farrer, L, Leach, L, Griffiths, K et al 2008, 'Age differences in mental health literacy', BMC Public Health, vol. 8, no. 125, p. 8.
- 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.
- 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 at home' caring for an infant - what are the potential links 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)
