Content warning: This video explores the themes of suicide and mental illness.
Our speakers and facilitator
Simon is a research fellow in the Health & Wellbeing Research Program at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) and is a clinical psychologist with experience working with adults and children on the autism spectrum, trauma, and psycho-education assessments. Simon’s current research interests focus primarily on the accessibility and inclusion of Autistic adults, centred on mental health support and employment. This includes investigating social barriers and enablers to inclusion, defining and promoting neurodiversity-affirming support, and the interaction of social and clinical psychology (e.g., autism identity).
Jessica is a social worker and Regional Victoria Senior Mental Health Advocate at Independent Mental Health Advocacy on mental health resources for Victorians on involuntary treatment orders.
Lauren is a Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology & Public Health at La Trobe University (@DrLauren_Lawson) and an OTARC affiliate. Lauren’s research interests are focused on mental health and wellbeing of autistic adults, understanding the impact of transdiagnostic factors (e.g., psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance) on the development and maintenance of mental health and sleep difficulties, and developing evidence based psychological interventions through a contextual behavioural science framework. Lauren is passionate about using large datasets to identify areas of strength and difficulty for individuals and translating these results into informing development of evidence-based interventions. Lauren is a practicing psychologist working within an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy framework for past 5 years, including supervising and training provisional psychologists. She is co-director of the ACTUALISE Lab at La Trobe University (@ACTUALISELab), which aims to bring together researchers, clinicians, and students who have an interest in contextual behavioural science.
Dr Shane Huntington OAM (facilitator)
Shane is an accomplished speaker, executive coach, workshop facilitator, MC, and strategist with a passion for science and communication. Shane is the presenter of Einstein A go-go on 3RRR radio.
