Exercise and Youth Mental Health Service Transitions
A new UWA-led review examines how exercise could support young people as they move between child and adolescent and adult mental health services
In collaboration with
Blog
Resources + Tools
Available Student Projects
Blog
Eating Disorder Treatment Outcomes in Trans and Gender Diverse People
New systematic review co-authored by UWA researchers examines eating disorder treatment outcomes in trans and gender diverse people. Read the key findings.
Thriving in Motion: A Therapeutic Exercise Model for Kids
Inside the Thriving in Motion Kids & Teens program: 4000+ enrolments, the M.A.G.I.C framework, and 15 years of community-based therapeutic exercise.
Exercise for Trans Young People: New Qualitative Study
What 20 trans young people, parents, and clinicians told us about barriers and enablers to exercise in gender-affirming care. New MHEX research.
Team Bios
Resources
Eating + Exercise Behaviours of Trans Adults - Community Summaries
A team led by A/Prof Bonnie Furzer and Mx Kai Schweizer have explored the eating and exercise behaviours of trans and gender diverse adults with the aim to support healthy behaviours, and improve care for those with challenging behaviours.
Based on interviews conducted with the trans community and health professionals a series of summaries have been developed and available below:
Guidelines and Tools for Triaging Mental Health Consumers into Exercise
A recent project explored strategies to triage patients into exercise therapy within hospital based mental health care and as part of the expert consensus a number of tools were developed for use by exercise professionals and mental health services.
These tools are available free of charge via the links below:
- Research methodology and results (open access)
- Guidelines and consensus framework (PDF) including psychotropic medication reference guide
Please cite authors for any use: McMahen, C., Wright, K., Jackson, B., Stanton, R., Lederman, O., McKeon, G., Rosenbaum, S., & Furzer, B. (2024). The implementation of exercise therapy within hospital-based mental healthcare: Delphi study. BJPsych Open, 10(5), Article e147.
Pre-Exercise Screening for Young People
In collaboration with Sports Medicine Australia (SMA), AUSactive and Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), a team of experts and exercise professionals led by MHEX Lead (A/Prof Bonnie Furzer), developed a Pre-Exercise Screening System for Young People.
It is designed to minimise the risk of injuries associated with participating in exercise and physical activity and includes Screening Tools for both parents and young people, as well as a User Guide.
- Download tools via AUSactive
- Methodology on development of tools and evaluation available upon request.
Student Projects
The team at MHEX work with Honours, Masters and PhD students from various disciplines on projects with collaborators and community that align with our core mission.
Honours and Masters projects are available to students enrolled at UWA, or our collaborating partners Universities (UNSW, Curtin University), and depending on staff workload and capacity to supervise.
PhD projects are open to Australian domestic and International students who meet the admission requirements for University of Western Australia or one of our collaborating Universities, and have funding/scholarship to study.
Some studies require specific skills sets or previous experience and can be discussed with the team.
Information on currently available studies linked below:
Contact us below for more information or at mhex@uwa.edu
Contact Us
The MHEX team acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians of Country and recognises their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
We are committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination through education and inclusive communities. We welcome all people and are respectful of individual identities.