Award will boost research in women’s health

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: Dr Beth Mah will use her Early and Mid-Career Researcher award to further her work in psychiatry.

A psychiatrist working clinically with vulnerable families in Newcastle and Sydney is among the first winners of a Women’s Health Research Translation Network award for female Early and Mid-Career Researchers in women’s health.

Dr Beth Mah is a perinatal and infant psychiatrist who completed her PhD in 2015 on ‘Postnatal depression, oxytocin and maternal sensitivity’. She also conducts research into perinatal mental health focusing on vulnerable populations.

Dr Mah tells us she will use the $15,000 award to complete further clinical training (Certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy). Subsequently, Dr Mah will embark upon a pilot Randomised Control Trial to investigate the effect of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy on complex PTSD symptoms for Aboriginal parents referred by child protection services.

We congratulate Dr Mah on her latest success. The other recipients of individual awards are Catherine Chojenta, Melissa Harris, Melinda Hutchesson and Katherine Brain.