Dr Mathijs Lucassen

Professional biography

I joined the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) at The Open University in August 2015, and was a WELS open media fellow from 2017 until 2022. I originally trained as an occupational therapist, and have worked clinically in mental health services in both England and New Zealand. Immediately prior to starting work at The Open University I worked as a lecturer and research fellow at the Department of Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Auckland.

Qualifications

2019 - Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

2012 - Doctor of Philosophy in Psychiatry (University of Auckland). Thesis title: “Evaluation of a computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) program for depressive symptoms in sexual minority youth”. Supervisors - Professor Sally Merry, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland & Professor Simon Hatcher, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.

2007 - Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (Auckland University of Technology).

2005 - Master of Health Sciences with First Class Honours (University of Auckland). Thesis title: “Training in child and adolescent mental health for nursing, occupational therapy and social work students: Does it influence career intentions?” Supervisor – Professor Sally Merry, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland.

2004 - Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences in Child & Adolescent Mental Health (University of Auckland).

1997 - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with Distinction (Otago Polytechnic).

1996 - Diploma in Occupational Therapy with Distinction (Otago Polytechnic).

Research interests

Mental health workforce development
Child and youth mental health
The mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people
Computerised and online therapies

Teaching interests

Mental health and community (K240) [co-chair in presentation with Dr Rod Earle 2016J]
Approaches to mental health (K314) [co-chair in production with Dr Rod Earle 2016J]
PhD supervision

Impact and engagement

My research is designed to help inform others about the mental health needs of under-served populations (in particular LGBTQI+ people), and to contribute towards enhancing the mental wellbeing of young people. Examples of impact and engagement activities include:

Being a named contributor to UNESCO’s “From insult to inclusion” report http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002354/235414e.pdf. This report highlighted that the bullying of LGBTQI+ young people is widespread in the Asia-Pacific region, and it has led to targeted support initiatives in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and elsewhere.
Being the academic advisor for infographics with Ara Taiohi (New Zealand’s peak body for youth work and development). Infographics which are based on research that I have led or been a co-author of. These infographics are now available in schools and organisations across New Zealand.
The development of 'A Support Net' http://www.open.edu/openlearn/supportnet, an interactive educational tool used by over 30,000 people via OpenLearn, which was designed to encourage people to think about how they can support individuals with mental health issues.
Short accessible written pieces which summarise research findings, for example an article in The Conversation about a paper I was the first author of (i.e. "Sexual minority youth and depressive symptoms or depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies") https://theconversation.com/lesbian-gay-and-bisexual-teenagers-at-much-greater-risk-of-depression-83065

External collaborations

Co-investigator on the TrACY Study (funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand). The TrACY study was an exciting collaboration between the University of Auckland and Harvard University (Professor John Weisz and colleagues) and consisted of a rigorous real world clinical trial to test whether training in MATCH-ADTC (Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma or Conduct problems) results in the delivery of more evidence-based therapy and better mental health outcomes for children and adolescents than usual care. The co-principal investigators for the TrACY study were Professor Sally Merry and Professor Sue Crengle. The study's published trial protocol is freely available (Modular Approach to Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems in outpatient child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial | Trials | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)) and the results from the study are now also open access (Effect of Clinician Training in the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children vs Usual Care on Clinical Outcomes and Use of Empirically Supported Treatments: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Adolescent Medicine | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network)
Various research projects with the University of Auckland's Adolescent Health Research Group (AHRG), which includes co-authoring government commissioned reports and producing peer-reviewed journal articles. The AHRG have conducted the Youth'2000 survey series, which consist of population-based surveys of over 27,000 New Zealand secondary school students, conducted in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019 Our team - The University of Auckland.
Member of the University of Auckland's youth e-therapy research group (led by Professor Sally Merry), and part of the team that developed SPARX (a computerised cognitive behavioural therapy program for young people with depressive symptoms) https://www.youtube.com/watch? SPARX-related projects are underway (or have been completed) in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Canada, the United States and Japan, with the first randomised controlled trial of the intervention published in the British Medical Journal http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2598.
Educating for Diversity - an evaluation of a sexuality diversity workshop and a gender diversity workshop to address secondary school bullying (funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Education) with RainbowYOUTH (New Zealand) and Dr James Burford (Assistant Professor), University of Warwick.
Projects currently underway with external partners include The PRIDE Project (funded by the Medical Research Council) and Engaging Sexual Stories (funded by the Wellcome Trust).

International links

Honorary Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland.

Externally funded projects

Building resilience: Co-designing an online rainbow wellbeing toolkit for public health systems to promote wellbeing and resilience in LGBTQ+ youth (i.e. The Pride Project)

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Lead	01 Sep 2021	31 Dec 2023	MRC Medical Research Council
Promoting resilience and wellbeing through co-design (PRIDE): The Pride Rainbow Toolkit Project has three main objectives: 1) To co-design a media rich “online rainbow wellbeing” toolkit with LGBTQ+ adolescents, and experts in psycho-social coping strategies as well as public health leaders (e.g. commissioners of services, experts on bullying prevention, therapists and police, teachers and youth workers); 2) To explore how the online toolkit can be used within UK public health systems by LGBTQ+ youth themselves, and by community organisations and professionals who would benefit from use of the online toolkit (e.g. as continuing professional development/CPD); and, 3) To plan the delivery of the intervention and determine the design and measures for a future effectiveness study as well as further implementation of the toolkit. Project website: https://healthwellbeing.kmi.open.ac.uk/related-projects/httphealthwellbeing-kmi-open-ac-ukrelated-projectsthe-internet-and-rainbow-young-people-how-can-online-resources-better-support-wellbeing/

Engaging Sexual Stories: Evidence-based sex and relationship tools from Natsal

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Co-investigator	31 Dec 2020	01 May 2025	WELLCOME Wellcome Trust
‘Engaging Sexual Stories’ is a Research Enrichment Public Engagement project funded by the Wellcome Trust (UNS100842). In collaboration, The Open University, University College London (UCL), Cardiff University, and Brook are developing a set of relationships and sex education (RSE) materials from National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) findings for teachers, young people and the general public. In particular, The OU is creating open educational resources (OERs) that can be used as part of RSE curriculum in schools (via Brook) and by the public more generally (via OpenLearn).

Publications

Journal articles

Digital technologies to support adolescents with depression and anxiety: review (2023-07)
Bevan Jones, Rhys; Hussain, Faris; Shameem Agha, Sharifah; Weavers, Bryony; Lucassen, Mathijs; Merry, Sally; Stallard, Paul; Simpson, Sharon Anne and Rice, Frances
BJPsych Advances, 29(4) (pp. 239-263)

Evaluating the Utility of a Psychoeducational Serious Game (SPARX) in Protecting Inuit Youth From Depression: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (2023-03-09)
Bohr, Yvonne; Litwin, Leah; Hankey, Jeffrey Ryan; McCague, Hugh; Singoorie, Chelsea; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Shepherd, Matthew and Barnhardt, Jenna
JMIR Serious Games, 11, Article e38493

Enhancing an online cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for depression: Harnessing the feedback of sexual and gender minority youth to help improve SPARX (2023)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Stasiak, Karolina; Fleming, Theresa; Shepherd, Matthew and Merry, Sally
Australasian Psychiatry ((Early Access))

More–than–relationship quality: A feminist new materialist analysis of relationship quality and the potential of digital couple interventions (2023)
Gabb, Jacqui; Aicken, Catherine; Di Martino, Salvatore; Witney, Tom and Lucassen, Mathijs
Journal of Family Theory & Review ((early access))

A network approach to understanding distance learners' experience of stress and mental distress whilst studying (2023)
Samra, Rajvinder; França, Alex Bacadini; Lucassen, Mathijs F G and Waterhouse, Philippa
International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20, Article 27(1)

‘Is it worth potentially dealing with someone who won't get it?’: LGBTQA+ university students’ perspectives on mental health care (2023)
Garcia, C.; Grant, E.; Treharne, G.J.; Arahanga-Doyle, H.; Lucassen, Mathijs; Scarf, D.; Taumoepeau, M.; Veale, J. and Rapsey, C.
Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand ((Early access))

‘We’ll be okay together’: navigating challenges as queer university students in Aotearoa New Zealand (2023)
Garcia, C.; Grant, E.; Treharne, G.; Arahanga-Doyle, H.; Lucassen, Mathijs; Scarf, D.; Taumoepeau, M.; Veale, J. and Rapsey, C.
Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online ((Early access))

Supporting children’s understanding around emotions through creative, dance-based movement: A pilot study (2022-12)
Twiner, Alison; Lucassen, Mathijs and Tatlow-Golden, Mimi
Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 37, Article 100659

Indigenous adolescent health in Aotearoa New Zealand: Trends, policy and advancing equity for rangatahi Māori, 2001–2019 (2022-11-01)
Clark, Terryann C.; Ball, Jude; Fenaughty, John; Drayton, Bradley; Fleming, Theresa; Rivera-Rodriguez, Claudia; Le Grice, Jade; Peiris-John, Roshini; Bavin, Lynda-Maree; Schwencke, Ariel; Sutcliffe, Kylie; Lewycka, Sonia; Lucassen, Mathijs; Waa, Anaru; Greaves, Lara M. and Crengle, Sue
The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, 28, Article 100554

Differences in suicidality and psychological symptoms between sexual and gender minority patients compared to heterosexual and cisgender patients in a psychiatric hospital (2022-07)
Ugueto, Ana M. and Lucassen, Mathijs
Children and Youth Services Review, 138, Article 106504

Promoting Resilience and Well-being Through Co-Design (The PRIDE Project): Protocol for the Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Prototype Resilience-Based Intervention for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (2022-02-01)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Samra, Rajvinder; Rimes, Katharine; Brown, Katherine and Wallace, Louise
JMIR Research Protocols, 11, Article e31036(2)

Abandoned to manage the post-Olympic blues: Olympians reflect on their experiences and the need for a change (2022)
Bradshaw, Holly; Howells, Karen and Lucassen, Mathijs
Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 14(5) (pp. 706-723)

Distance education students' satisfaction: Do work and family roles matter? (2022)
Waterhouse, Philippa; Samra, Rajvinder and Lucassen, Mathijs
Distance Education, 43(1) (pp. 56-77)

Coping Strategies to Enhance the Mental Wellbeing of Sexual and Gender Minority Youths: A Scoping Review (2022)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Núñez-García, Alicia; Rimes, Katharine A.; Wallace, Louise M.; Brown, Katherine E. and Samra, Rajvinder
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, Article e8738(14)

Reflections on SPARX, a self-administered e-intervention for depression, for Inuit youth in Nunavut (2022)
Litwin, Leah; Hankey, Jeffrey; Lucassen, Mathijs; Shepherd, Matthew; Singoorie, Chelsea and Bohr, Yvonne
Journal of Rural Mental Health ((Early access))

Representing the Unseen with “Our Journey”: a Platform to Capture Affective Experiences and Support Emotional Awareness in University-Level Study (2021-06)
Coughlan, Tim; Lister, Kate and Lucassen, Mathijs
Journal of Formative Design in Learning, 5(1) (pp. 39-52)

Special Considerations for SGM Youth Online (2021-05-27)
Lucassen, Mathijs and Ugueto, Ana
Psychiatric Times, 38(5) (pp. 16-18)

Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for gender minority adolescents: Analysis of the real-world implementation of SPARX in New Zealand (2021)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Stasiak, Karolina; Fleming, Theresa; Frampton, Christopher; Perry, Yael; Shepherd, Matthew and Merry, Sally
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 55(9) (pp. 874-882)

Intersex adolescents seeking help for their depression: The case study of SPARX in New Zealand (2021)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Perry, Yael; Frampton, Christopher; Fleming, Theresa; Merry, Sally; Shepherd, Matthew and Stasiak, Karolina
Australasian Psychiatry, 29(4)

Technology Matters: SPARX - computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescent depression in a game format (2021)
Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs; Stasiak, Karolina; Sutcliffe, Kylie and Merry, Sally
Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26(1) (pp. 92-94)

Combining and managing work-family-study roles and perceptions of institutional support (2021)
Samra, Rajvinder; Waterhouse, Philippa and Lucassen, Mathijs
Distance Education, 42(1) (pp. 88-105)

Key challenges and opportunities around wellbeing for distance learning students: the online law school experience (2021)
Jones, Emma; Samra, Rajvinder and Lucassen, Mathijs
Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 38(2) (pp. 117-135)

Effect of Clinician Training in the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children vs Usual Care on Clinical Outcomes and Use of Empirically Supported Treatments: A Randomized Clinical Trial (2020-08-17)
Merry, Sally N.; Hopkins, Sarah; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Stasiak, Karolina; Weisz, John R.; Frampton, Christopher M. A.; Bearman, Sarah Kate; Ugueto, Ana M.; Herren, Jennifer; Cribb-Su’a, Ainsleigh; Kingi-Uluave, Denise; Loy, Jik; Hartdegen, Morgyn and Crengle, Sue
JAMA Network Open, 3, Article e2011799(8)

Using the Internet to access health-related information: results from a nationally representative sample of New Zealand secondary school students (2020-04)
Utter, Jennifer; Lucassen, Mathijs; Denny, Simon; Fleming, Terry; Peiris-John, Roshini and Clark, Terryann
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 32, Article 20170096(2)

Mental distress and its relationship to distance education students’ work and family roles (2020)
Waterhouse, Philippa; Samra, Rajvinder and Lucassen, Mathijs
Distance Education, 41(4) (pp. 540-558)

Factors associated with academic achievement for sexual and gender minority and heterosexual cisgender students: Implications from a nationally representative study (2019-10)
Fenaughty, John; Lucassen, Mathijs; Clark, Terryann and Denny, Simon
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(10) (pp. 1883-1898)

Body size and weight, and the nutrition and activity behaviors of sexual and gender minority youth: Findings and implications from New Zealand (2019-09-01)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Guntupalli, Aravinda; Clark, Terryann; Fenaughty, John; Denny, Simon; Fleming, Theresa; Smith, Melody and Utter, Jennifer
Public Health Nutrition, 22(13) (pp. 2346-2356)

Social Jet-Lag in Tertiary Students Following A Modern Curriculum with Few Time-Tabled Contact Hours: A Pilot Study (2019-09)
Leenaars, Cathalijn H. C.; Lucassen, Mathijs; Borger, Nedim; Houben, Ellen and Kalsbeek, Andries
Clocks & Sleep, 1(3) (pp. 306-318)

The world at their fingertips? The mental wellbeing of online distance-based law students (2019)
Jones, Emma; Samra, Rajvinder and Lucassen, Mathijs
The Law Teacher, 53(1) (pp. 49-69)

Navigating double marginalisation: Migrant Chinese sexual and gender minority young people’s views on mental health challenges and supports (2019)
Chiang, Szu-Ying; Fenaughty, John; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G. and Fleming, Theresa
Culture, Health and Sexuality, 21(7) (pp. 807-821)

Natural neighbourhood environments and the emotional health of urban New Zealand adolescents (2019)
Mavoa, Suzanne; Lucassen, Mathijs; Denny, Simon; Utter, Jennifer; Clark, Terryann and Smith, Melody
Landscape and Urban Planning, 191, Article 103638

How LGBT+ Young People Use the Internet in Relation to Their Mental Health and Envisage the Use of e-Therapy: Exploratory Study (2018-12-21)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Samra, Rajvinder; Iacovides, Ioanna; Fleming, Theresa; Shepherd, Matthew; Stasiak, Karolina and Wallace, Louise
JMIR Serious Games, 6, Article e11249(4)

From secrecy to discretion: The views of psychological therapists' on supporting Chinese sexual and gender minority young people (2018-10)
Chiang, Szu-Ying; Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Fouche, Christa and Fenaughty, John
Children and Youth Services Review, 93 (pp. 307-314)

‘Post-Olympic Blues’ –The Diminution of Celebrity in Olympic Athletes (2018-07)
Howells, Karen and Lucassen, Mathijs
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 37 (pp. 67-78)

Beyond the trial: A systematic review of real-world uptake and engagement with digital self-help interventions for depression, low mood, or anxiety (2018-06-06)
Fleming, T.; Bavin, L. M.; Lucassen, M.; Stasiak, K.; Hopkins, S. and Merry, S. N.
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20, Article e199(6)

Uneven progress in reducing exposure to violence at home for New Zealand adolescents 2001–2012: a nationally representative cross‐sectional survey series (2018-06-05)
Gulliver, Pauline; Fanslow, Janet; Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs and Dixon, Robyn
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42(3) (pp. 262-268)

Who is teaching the kids to cook? Results from a nationally representative survey of secondary school students in New Zealand (2018-06)
Utter, Jennifer; Denny, Simon; Lucassen, Mathijs and Dyson, Ben
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 30, Article 20160064(3)

Factors related to medical students’ and doctors’ attitudes towards older patients: A systematic review (2017-11-01)
Samra, Rajvinder; Cox, Tom; Gordon, Adam L; Conroy, Simon; Lucassen, Mathijs and Griffiths, Amanda
Age and Ageing, 46(6) (pp. 911-919)

Sexual minority youth and depressive symptoms or depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies (2017-08-01)
Lucassen, Mathijs F.G.; Stasiak, Karolina; Samra, Rajvinder; Frampton, Christopher M.A. and Merry, Sally N.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51(8) (pp. 774-787)

Evaluating a gender diversity workshop to promote positive learning environments (2017-02-02)
Burford, James; Lucassen, Mathijs F.G. and Hamilton, Thomas
Journal of LGBT Youth, 14(2) (pp. 211-227)

Home Gardening and the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents (2017-01-19)
van Lier, Laila E.; Utter, Jennifer; Denny, Simon; Lucassen, Mathijs; Dyson, Ben and Clark, Terryann
Health Promotion Practice, 18(1) (pp. 34-43)

Tips for research recruitment: The views of sexual minority youth (2017-01-13)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Fleming, Theresa M. and Merry, Sally N.
Journal of LGBT Youth, 14(1) (pp. 16-30)

Tips and Traps: Lessons From Codesigning a Clinician E-Monitoring Tool for Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (2017-01-11)
Sundram, Frederick; Hawken, Susan J; Stasiak, Karolina; Lucassen, Mathijs FG; Fleming, Theresa; Shepherd, Matthew; Greenwood, Andrea; Osborne, Raechel and Merry, Sally N
JMIR Mental Health, 4(1) (e3)

Serious Games and Gamification for Mental Health: Current Status and Promising Directions (2017-01-10)
Fleming, Theresa M.; Bavin, Lynda; Stasiak, Karolina; Hermansson-Webb, Eve; Merry, Sally N.; Cheek, Colleen; Lucassen, Mathijs; Lau, Ho Ming; Pollmuller, Britta and Hetrick, Sarah
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 7, Article 215

Adolescent gambling behaviour, a single latent construct and indicators of risk: findings from a national survey of New Zealand high school students (2016-08-03)
Rossen, Fiona V.; Lucassen, Mathijs F.G.; Fleming, Theresa M.; Sheridan, Janie and Denny, Simon J.
Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, 6, Article 7

Changes in the sexual health behaviours of New Zealand secondary school students, 2001–2012: findings from a national survey series (2016-08)
Clark, Terryann C.; Lucassen, Mathijs F.G.; Fleming, Theresa; Peiris-John, Roshini; Ikihele, Amio; Teevale, Tasileta; Robinson, Elizabeth and Crengle, Sue
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(4) (pp. 329-336)

The impact and utility of computerised therapy for educationally alienated teenagers: the views of adolescents who participated in an Alternative Education based trial. (2016-07-01)
Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs; Stasiak, Karolina; Shepherd, Matthew and Merry, Sally
Clinical Psychologist, 20(2) (pp. 94-102)

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing two Cognitive-Behavioral Programs for Adolescent Girls with Subclinical Depression: A School-Based Program (Op Volle Kracht) and a Computerized Program (SPARX) (2016-05-31)
Poppelaars, Marlou; Tak, Yuli R.; Lichtwarck-Aschoff, Anna; Engels, Rutger C.M.E.; Lobel, Adam; Merry, Sally N.; Lucassen, Mathijs F.G. and Granic, Isabela
Behaviour Research and Therapy, 80 (pp. 33-42)

The association between supportive high school environments and depressive symptoms and suicidality among sexual minority students. (2016-05)
Denny, Simon; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Stuart, Jaimee; Fleming, Theresa; Bullen, Pat; Peiris-John, Roshini; Rossen, Fiona V. and Utter, Jennifer
Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 45(3) (pp. 248-261)

Computer-Based and Online Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents (2016-04-20)
Stasiak, Karolina; Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Shepherd, Matthew J.; Whittaker, Robyn and Merry, Sally N.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 26(3) (pp. 235-245)

Unhealthy Gambling Amongst New Zealand Secondary School Students: An Exploration of Risk and Protective Factors (2016-02)
Rossen, Fiona V.; Clark, Terryann; Denny, Simon |J.; Fleming, Theresa M.; Peiris-John, Roshini; Robinson, Elizabeth and Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14(1) (pp. 95-110)

Adolescent cooking abilities and behaviors: Associations with nutrition and emotional well-being (2016-01)
Utter, Jennifer; Denny, Simon; Lucassen, Mathijs and Dyson, Ben
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 48(1) (pp. 35-41)

Modular Approach to Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems in outpatient child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2015-10-12)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Stasiak, Karolina; Crengle, Sue; Weisz, John R.; Frampton, Christopher M. A.; Bearman, Sarah Kate; Ugueto, Ana M.; Herren, Jennifer; Cribb-Su'a, Ainsleigh; Faleafa, Monique; Kingi-'Ulu'ave, Denise; Loy, Jik; Scott, Rebecca M.; Hartdegen, Morgyn and Merry, Sally N.
Trials, 16, Article 457

Educating for diversity: an evaluation of a sexuality diversity workshop to address secondary school bullying. (2015-10)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G. and Burford, James
Australasian Psychiatry, 23(5) (pp. 544-549)

Rainbow SPARX: a novel approach to addressing depression in sexual minority youth. (2015-05)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Merry, Sally N.; Hatcher, Simon and Frampton, Christopher M. A.
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 22(2) (pp. 203-216)

Integrating health behavior theory and design elements in serious games. (2015-04-21)
Cheek, Colleen; Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Bridgman, Heather; Stasiak, Karolina; Shepherd, Matthew and Orpin, Peter
JMIR Mental Health, 2, Article e11(2)

What has changed from 2001 to 2012 for sexual minority youth in New Zealand? (2015-04)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Clark, Terryann C.; Denny, Simon J.; Fleming, Theresa M.; Rossen, Fiona V.; Sheridan, Janie; Bullen, Pat and Robinson, Elizabeth M.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 51(4) (pp. 410-418)

The design and relevance of a computerised therapy program for indigenous Māori adolescents. (2015-03-03)
Shepherd, Matthew; Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs; Stasiak, Karolina; Lambie, Ian and Merry, Sally N.
JMIR Serious Games, 3, Article e1(1)

A qualitative study of sexual minority young peoples’ experiences of computerised therapy for depression. (2015)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Hatcher, Simon; Fleming, Theresa M.; Stasiak, Karolina; Shepherd, Matthew J. and Merry, Sally N.
Australasian Psychiatry, 23(3) (pp. 268-273)

The health and well-being of transgender high school students: results from the New Zealand adolescent health survey (Youth’12). (2014-07-31)
Clark, Terryann C.; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Bullen, Pat; Denny, Simon J.; Fleming, Theresa M.; Robinson, Elizabeth M. and Rossen, Fiona V.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(1) (pp. 93-99)

Stability and change in the mental health of New Zealand secondary school students 2007–2012: Results from the national adolescent health surveys (2014-05)
Fleming, Theresa M.; Clark, Terryann; Denny, Simon; Bullen, Pat; Crengle, Sue; Peiris-John, Roshini; Robinson, Elizabeth; Rossen, Fiona V.; Sheridan, Janie and Lucassen, Mathjis
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48(5) (pp. 472-480)

Views of young people in rural Australia on SPARX, a fantasy world developed for New Zealand youth with depression. (2014-02-18)
Cheek, Colleen; Bridgman, Heather; Fleming, Theresa; Cummings, Elizabeth; Ellis, Leonie; Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Shepherd, Matthew and Skinner, Timothy
JMIR Serious Games, 2, Article e3(1)

The views of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth regarding computerised self-help for depression: An exploratory study (2013)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Hatcher, Simon; Stasiak, Karolina; Fleming, Theresa; Shepherd, Matthew and Merry, Sally N.
Advances in Mental Health: Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention, 12(1) (pp. 22-34)

A randomised controlled non-inferiority trial of the effectiveness of SPARX, a computerised self-help intervention for adolescents seeking help for depression. (2012-05-19)
Merry, Sally N.; Stasiak, Karolina; Shepherd, Matthew; Frampton, Chris; Fleming, Theresa and Lucassen, Mathijs
BMJ, 344, Article e2598(7857)

Sexual attraction, depression, self-harm, suicidality and help-seeking behaviour in New Zealand secondary school students. (2011-05)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Merry, Sally N.; Robinson, Elizabeth M.; Denny, Simon; Clark, Terryann; Ameratunga, Shanthi; Crengle, Sue and Rossen, Fiona V.
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45(5) (pp. 376-383)

Increasing child and adolescent mental health content in undergraduate occupational therapy, social work and nursing programs: Lessons learnt. (2008-11-03)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Doherty, Iain and Merry, Sally
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 7(3) (pp. 157-165)

The impact of a workshop on motivation to pursue a career in child and adolescent mental health (2007-07)
Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Robinson, Elizabeth and Merry, Sally N.
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(7) (pp. 618-624)

Mental Health Status of Double Minority Adolescents: Findings from National Cross-Sectional Health Surveys
Chiang, Szu-Ying; Fleming, Theresa; Lucassen, Mathijs; Fenaughty, John; Clark, Terryann and Denny, Simon
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (pp. 1-12)

Revising Computerized Therapy for Wider Appeal Among Adolescents: Youth Perspectives on a Revised Version of SPARX
Fleming, Theresa M.; Stasiak, Karolina; Emma, Moselen; Eve, Hermansson-Webb; Shepherd, Matthew; Lucassen, Mathijs; Bavin, Lynda M. and Merry, Sally
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 802

Authored books

Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Legal Profession (2020-09-24)
Jones, Emma; Graffin, Neil; Samra, Rajvinder and Lucassen, Mathijs
Bristol Shorts Research
ISBN : 9781529210743 | Publisher : Bristol University Press | Published : Bristol

Child and adolescent mental health in Aotearoa/New Zealand: an overview (2005)
Lucassen, Mathijs; Doherty, Iain and Merry, Sally
ISBN : 9781877371196 | Publisher : Pearson Education New Zealand | Published : Auckland

Book chapters

Playing anxiety and depression away: Serious games for mental health problems in children and adolescents (2022-07-18)
Lucassen, M.; Fleming, T.; Shepherd, M.; Stasiak, K. and Merry, S.
In: Bennett, Sophie; Myles-Hooton, Pamela; Schleider, Jessica and Shafran, Roz eds. Oxford Guide to Brief and Low Intensity Interventions for Children and Young People (pp. 273-279)
ISBN : 9780198867791 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford

Implementing and Testing Youth Psychotherapies through a National Center for Evidence-Based Practice in New Zealand (2017-06)
Merry, Sally N.; Stasiak, Karolina; Dunnachie, Bronwyn; Anstiss, Tania; Lucassen, Mathijs and Cargo, Tania
In: Weisz, John R. and Kazdin, Alan E. eds. Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents (Third Edition) (pp. 396-414)
ISBN : 9781462522699 | Publisher : The Guilford Press | Published : New York

Conference items

Alphabetical literacy does not have to be a barrier to engagement and learning: Supporting children’s understanding through talk, digital technologies and dance (2022)
Twiner, Alison; Littleton, Karen; Lucassen, Mathijs; Tatlow-Golden, Mimi and Whitelock, Denise
In : Cambridge Assessment International Education Symposium on Educational Dialogues in Multilingual Classrooms (22 Mar 2022, Online)

Engaging with research findings and exploring Dancemotion pilot programme content: Supporting children’s understanding of different emotions through creative, dance-based movement (2021)
Twiner, Alison; Lucassen, Mathijs and Tatlow-Golden, Mimi
In : British Educational Research Association Annual Conference (13-16 Sep 2021, Online)

Life or Death Decisions: online engagement using films to explore advance care planning (2020-03-19)
Borgstrom, Erica; Lucassen, Mathijs; Jones, Rebecca; Amoah, Sas; Axtell-Powell, Georgia and Cooke, Georgie
In : Palliative Care Congress (19-20 Mar 2020, Telford, England)

'A Support Net': Evaluating a novel mental health-related online educational tool (2019-02-13)
Lucassen, Mathijs F.G.; Samra, Rajvinder; Axtell-Powell, Georgia and Cooke, Georgina
In : International Society for Research on Internet Interventions - ISRII: The Next Generation (13-15 Feb 2019, Auckland, New Zealand)

What Factors Are Related to Medical Students’ and Doctors’ Attitudes Towards Older Patients? (2017-06-30)
Samra, Rajvinder; Cox, Tom; Gordon, Adam; Conroy, Simon; Lucassen, Mathijs and Griffiths, Amanda
In : 21st IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics (23-27 Jul 2017, San Francisco, California)

Pilot testing a computerized CBT program in a remote Arctic region: Nunavut youth and youth workers reflect on SPARX (2016-10-27)
Khourochvili, Mariami; Bohr, Yvonne; Litwin, Leah; Lucassen, Mathijs and Merry, Sally
In : Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 50th Annual Convention (27-30 Oct 2016, New York City)

Thesis

Evaluation of a computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) program for depressive symptoms in sexual minority youth. (2012)
Lucassen, Mathijs
PhD thesis The University of Auckland

Training in child and adolescent mental health for nursing, occupational therapy and social work students: does it influence career intentions? (2005)
Lucassen, Mathijs
mphil thesis The University of Auckland

Other

Serious Games and Gamification in Clinical Psychology (2020-11-02)
Fleming, Theresa; Sutcliffe, Kylie; Lucassen, Mathijs; Pine, Russell and Donkin, Liesje
Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology, Elsevier

Development and evaluation of the Our Journey platform through the ‘Linked Journeys’ project (2020-03)
Coughlan, Tim; Lister, Kate and Lucassen, Mathijs
Jisc

Youth’12 The Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand: Results for Young People Attracted to the Same Sex or Both Sexes (2014)
Lucassen, M. F. G.; Clark, T. C.; Moselen, E.; Robinson, E. M. and Adolescent Health Research Group,
The University of Auckland, Auckland.

Youth Gambling: The health and wellbeing of New Zealand secondary school students in 2012 (2013)
Rossen, F. V.; Fleming, T.; Lucassen, M.; Denny, S.; Peiris-John, R.; Teevale, T.; Crengle, S.; Robinson, E.; Bullen, P.; Dyson, B.; Fortune, S.; Utter, J.; Sheridan, J.; Clark, T. and Adolescent Health Research Group,
The University of Auckland, Auckland.

Youth ‘07 The health and wellbeing of secondary school students in New Zealand: Results for young people attracted to the same sex or both sexes. (2009)
Rossen, F.V.; Lucassen, Mathijs; Denny, S and Robinson, E
University of Auckland, Auckland.

Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies

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