Numerous studies have found that a person’s inter-connectedness with others and their engagement with the community is positively related to physical and mental health. These findings have prompted both Australian and international organisations to invest in health promotion programs targeting social connectedness. However, our understanding of the causal pathways linking social connectedness and health remains limited. A key unresolved question is ‘which aspects of connectedness are important for which health outcomes, and for whom?’ By developing a theoretically cohesive, multi-dimensional model of social connectedness, Sandra aims to identify the elements of connectedness that predict depression outcomes and thus to gain an insight into the causal mechanisms underlying such links. Understanding the causal factors linking connectedness and depression will provide valuable information which can assist in the development of clinically based interventions and broader health promotion programs. 

Sandra is working with the diamond team in the Primary Care Research Unit at the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne. She is supervised by the Head of Department, Professor Jane Gunn and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Liverpool, Christopher Dowrick. Her PhD is supported by a Melbourne Research Scholarship.

The diamond Consortium hosted the second diamond Consortium Colloquium for Research Higher Degree Students in December 2006. The Colloquium brought together 10 research students conducting research in the area of depression and related disorders in the primary care setting, from Victoria and interstate.

Students discussed the progress of their studies and the challenges they faced in their research and were given the opportunity to discuss solutions with other Research Higher Degree Students working in related areas.

Cathy Mihalopoulos from Deakin University, gave a lecture titled “Why consider economics in health care?” and the morning concluded with an interactive discussion led by Professor Jane Gunn on research capacity building.  The Colloquium was evaluated highly by the students that attended.

On 8 December 2006, there will be a research higher degree student event held from 10am-1pm at 200 Berkeley St, Carlton. On the day, student will discuss the progress of their mental health research, Ms Cathy Mihalopoulos, a health economist (Program Evaluation Unit, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne) will discuss mental health economics. Finally, Professor Jane Gunn, Chair of the Consortium will discuss research capacity building.

On Thursday February 9, the diamond Consortium hosted its first event for 2006; ‘The diamond Consortium Colloquium for Research Higher Degree Students’. The Colloquium brought together 18 research students conducting research in the area of depression and related disorders in the primary care setting, from Victoria and interstate and 13 academics and Consortium members. The objective of the day was for students to meet each other and to present and discuss their research.

To read more about the diamond Consortium Colloquium, Colloquium article.pdf