The Rebound Pilot Study - Dr Simon Rice, Research Fellow at Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

Part B

1. Briefly describe your research (maximum 400 words)

The Rebound pilot study was led by Dr Simon Rice, and aimed to implement a world-first peer-support enabled social network for depression relapse prevention (see Figure 1). Rebound has been developed by a multidisciplinary team including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and service consumers and uniquely integrates: (i) online social networking, (ii) individually tailored psychosocial interventions and, (iii) peer-to-peer, and professional clinical moderation in a single platform.

Rebound adopts an evidence-based strengths approach. Peer and clinical moderation follows the ‘supportive accountability’ theory-driven model of online engagement, focusing on experienced, trustworthy and accountable peer and expert moderators. Peer moderators are trained and supported young people with a recent lived experience of mental ill-health. We also maintain engagement with participants via postcards (see Figure 2) and regular structured social catch-ups.

The treatment completion phase of Rebound concluded in March 2015. 42 young people (mean age 18.5 years; 50% males) were recruited from three youth mental health services. Inclusion criteria were: (i) age 15-25, (ii) prior diagnosis of depression within last 6 months. All participants were assessed at baseline and at 3-months. Highlighting the feasibility and acceptability of Rebound, there was a total of 3,034 logins (avg. 72.2 logins per user), with 68% logging on >10 times. Participants completed an average of 5 therapy modules. The social networking features were used by all participants, with 2,146 postings (avg. 51.1 posts per user). There were no adverse incidents.

Relapse prevention results from the pilot were highly encouraging. At baseline, 37 participants (88%) met criteria for MDD in partial remission, with 5 participants (12%) being in full remission. At follow-up, significantly more participants (n=19; 45.2%) met criteria for full remission (i.e., no signs or symptoms in previous 2-months; p<0.001). Only 6 participants (14.3%) met diagnostic criteria for MDD (i.e., relapse) within the month preceding follow-up assessment. Depression scores improved significantly (d=0.45, p=0.014).

Qualitative feedback indicated that 100% of users rated Rebound within the positive range (e.g., ‘I liked the idea that you can go on there whenever’). 100% of users experienced the system as safe and supportive (e.g., ‘I like the idea of having a place like that where a focus is on mental health problems. People deactivate Facebook accounts due to bullying and that’s not possible to happen on Rebound’). All but one participant (96%) would recommend Rebound to another young person who had experienced depression.

2. Describe how your research illustrates Innovation, Best Practice or Excellence (maximum 200 words)

The Rebound intervention is highly innovate – it is the world’s first social network based intervention for depression relapse prevention. Rebound draws on three major strands of clinical e-mental health innovation. Firstly, Rebound extends existing online interventions

by providing young people with real-time social networking (improving intervention engagement, peer interaction and timely clinical and peer moderation). Secondly, Rebound provides a suite of individually tailored psychosocial interventions that supplement (not simply reinforce) acute phase treatment. Interventions draw on an evidence-based positive psychology (i.e., strengths) framework and include engaging multimedia content on diverse topics. Thirdly, Rebound provides an innovative model of integrated mental health support. Rebound includes trained peer supporters (referred to as Super Users) who are young people with a recent lived experience of mental ill-health. Super Users are critical in modelling a hopeful message within the social network. They welcome new users, share their perspectives and experiences and encourage ongoing engagement. Super Users are formally supported by expert clinical moderators (registered mental health practitioners). Each Rebound participant is allocated to an expert clinical moderator, who develops a formulation-based approach (informed by baseline interview data) to their ongoing engagement. Expert clinical moderators also oversee daily safety checks and any clinical follow-up.

3. Summarise the potential contribution to and/or implications for society (maximum 200 words)

The Rebound study is a world-first intervention bringing together innovative online social networking, tailored e-mental health interventions and integrated peer-to-peer, and professional clinical moderation in a single platform. The Rebound study has demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, safety and initial treatment benefit. These findings will be instrumental in the development of the next generation of online youth e-mental health intervention. Extension of the Rebound study is currently underway, with our team recently receiving a major grant from the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre (>$1M). This funding will see the Rebound intervention implemented at a population level, in partnership with eheadspace, the existing federally funded e-mental health clinical service for young people experiencing psychological distress. This population-based expansion of Rebound will provide an innovative model to better managing e-mental health service demand (at present existing e-mental health services have to turn away young people at periods of peak demand). Most importantly, expansion of the Rebound intervention will contribute to realising the full potential of mental health early intervention. Rebound provides a safe, non-stigmatising peer-support enabled online platform that is highly engaging and responsive for the management of disabling, distressing and costly high prevalence disorders for young Australians.

4. Describe any contribution by Mental Health consumers/persons with lived experience other than as subjects (e.g. reference group, researcher) (Maximum 200 words)

The success of the Rebound intervention has been largely driven by participatory design principles. Our team have engaged consumers for the outset, basing the development of the Rebound online platform and intervention content on reference group and focus group feedback. Rebound was developed based on consumer (young people experiencing mental ill-health) feedback requesting access to a positive supportive online community that included real time social networking, peer support, therapy content and responsive input from youth mental health clinicians. An integral component of the Rebound intervention is the peer support element. Consumers within the Rebound social network can choose to offer emotional support to others (while also experiencing emotional support from others). In addition, the intervention includes trained and supported peer moderators,

referred to as Super Users (who are similar-aged peers of participants) with a lived experience of previous mental ill-health. The inclusion of peer moderators (former service consumers) within the research team provides a real-life link between clinicians providing expert moderation and participants themselves. We have found this to be essential in modelling a hopeful recovery-focussed message within the social network, while also providing participants with examples of similar others who have successfully managed mental ill-health.

5. Attach a brief Curriculum Vitae (maximum 4 pages)

Please see below.

Dr Simon Rice Clinical Psychologist & Research Fellow

Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne Locked Bag 10 (35 Poplar Rd) Parkville VIC 3052 0419 497 599 simon.rice@orygen.org.au

Qualifications

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology, University of Newcastle – 2014 Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), Australian Catholic University, Melbourne – 2012 Master of Psychology (Clinical), Australian Catholic University, Melbourne – 2012 Bachelor of Science, Honours (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Hobart – 2006 Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Australian Catholic University, Melbourne – 2002 Bachelor of Behavioural Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora – 2000

Awards and Prizes

2015 – Society for Mental Health Research, Early Career Fellowship, competitive awarded including $75,000 salary support, plus $25,000 project support.

2015 – Beck Institute Postdoctoral Student Award, competitive award (>830 applicants) from the Beck Institute (University of Pennsylvania, USA) to attend 3-day workshop of CBT for suicidality; $1,500.

2014 – Early Career Scholar Award, awarded by the Society of Mental Health Research at their annual conference, Adelaide. Inclusive of complimentary conference registration; $990.

2013 – Best Debut Oral Presentation awarded at Australian Society of Psychiatric Research annual conference, Melbourne for the presentation “Evidence of effective psychological interventions for young people with mild depression”, inclusive of $500 prize.

2012 – PhD Thesis Awarded Summa Cum Laude (highest academic merit) by international examiner. 2010 – Australian Psychological Society, College of Clinical Psychologists, Student Prize,

acknowledges postgraduate clinical psychology who demonstrate high levels of clinical skill and ability to design and conduct clinically relevant research.

2009 – 2011 Australian Postgraduate Award with Stipend, PhD scholarship awarded by Australian Commonwealth Government.

2008 – Research Tuition Assistance Scholarship, awarded by School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.

Research Funding (grants & consultancy)

Total research funding awarded as Chief Investigator: $1,943,700

2016 Therapeutic alliance as a predictor of suicidal ideation in young people: Funded by North Western Mental Health $2,000

2015 – 2016 Development of Tasmanian Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy: Funded by the Tasmanian State Government $172,111

2015 – 2016 Developing guidelines for delivering online mental healthcare: A Delphi study: Funded by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre $60,000

2015 – 2016 Society for Mental Health Research, Early Career Fellowship, $100,000 2014 – 2016 Moderated online social therapy (MOST+): Funded by the Young and Well CRC for nationwide

expansion of the MOST model into headspace $1,024,100 2014 – 2015 Elite sportspeople mental health and wellbeing project: Funded by the Australian Football League,

Cricket Australia and the Professional Footballers Association; $229,750 2013 – 2015 Preventing relapse of major depressive disorder in young people, funded by HCF Health and

Medical Research Foundation; $199,959 2013 – 2014 Development of practice principles for the management of persistent suicidal ideation in young

people with major depressive disorder; funded by Orygen Youth Health Research Centre; $3,000 2009 – 2011 Development and psychometric validation of the Male Depression Risk Scale, funded by APA PhD

Scholarship; $65,000 2009 – 2010 Workplace mental health and wellbeing climate survey, funded by the Country Fire Authority,

VIC; $68,000 2009 – 2010 Workforce psychological wellbeing project, funded by the Uniting Church of Australia, $7,500 2007 – 2011 Competitive student research grant scheme, funded by Australian Catholic University $3,00

 

Employment History Current Positions:

Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne Research Fellow Commenced Feb 2013 – Aug 2013 (0.4 EFT); Aug 2013 – Feb 2015 (FT) Current: Mar 2015 – (0.8EFT)

– Project Coordinator – MOST+ e-mental health project, in collaboration with headspace (0.6 EFT) – Research Fellow at headspace Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health (0.2 EFT) – Project Coordinator – Fish Oil Youth Depression Study (ceased in this role Jan 2015)

Orygen Youth Health Clinical Program, Parkville, VIC Youth Mood Clinic - Clinical Psychologist Commenced: Oct 2011 – Jan 2013 (FT); Feb 2013 – Aug 2013 (0.6EFT) Current: Mar 2015 – (0.2 EFT)

– Provision of psychological therapy, risk assessment and case planning for young people – Provision of family work in complex cases – Crisis planning and intervention for suicide risk – Seconded to 6-mth research project investigating the management of chronic suicidality

Previous Positions:

School of Psychology – Australian Catholic University, VIC Research Assistant (Part Time), May 2007 – Dec 2011

– Research assistant to Professor of Psychology – Project management, preparation of manuscripts, human research ethics submissions

Austin Health, Veteran Psychiatry Unit, PTSD Program, Heidelberg, VIC Provisional Psychologist (Clinical Placement; Part Time), Jun 2009 – Dec 2009

– Co-facilitation of group therapy programs delivered to Defence Force Veterans – Provision on ongoing individual therapy and psychological assessment

Editorial Boards

2015 – current Archives of Depression and Anxiety

Other Positions & Committee Membership

2016 – current Graduate Research Committee, Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

2015 – current Early Career Psychology Committee, Australian Psychological Society 2015 – current Translational Neurobiolgy Consortium, Co-chair (Clinical Assessments Panel) 2015 – current Cricket Australia – Player Development and Wellbeing Committee 2014 – current Clinical Moderator – ReFrameIT Online Suicide Prevention Intervention 2014 – current Clinical Moderator – Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) projects 2014 – current Member of Social Media Suicide Prevention Research Working Groups, Facebook Inc. 2014 – current Advisory Group Member – Paternal Perinatal Depression Initiative Screening Project

(the SMS4DADS Screening Project) 2013 Advisory committee for development of online mental health interventions for

same-sex attracted people; La Trobe University 2012 – 2013 Australian Society for Psychiatric Research, Member of Conference Organising

Committee, Member of Conference Scientific Committee, Coordinator of Conference Social Committee, Invited session chair: Trauma and psychopathology

2010 – 2011 APS College of Clinical Psychologists, Conference Organising Committee 2010 Symposium Coordinator, Men’s Mental Health, Int. Congress of Applied Psycholog (Melbourne)

   

Invited Presentations (International & National)

Rice, SM. (2014, May). The Facebook Suicide Prevention Summited. Keynote presentation at the Download to Uplift Conference, hosted by Facebook Australia & New Zealand, Sydney, AUS.

Rice, SM. (2014, February). Youth mental health and social networking: Opportunities for intervention and

 

connection. Keynote colloquium presentation to the School of Medicine, Stanford University, CA, USA.

Rice, SM. (2014, February). Social networking and opportunities to promote meaning in youth mental health. Paper presented at the Suicide Prevention Summit hosted by Facebook Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Rice, SM. (2011, July). Findings from the KooWeeRup Men’s Shed Evaluation Project. Presentation to the

Department of Health, State Government of Victoria, Traralgon Region, AUS.  

Selected Peer Reviewed Publications

Published / In Press

39. Sung-Wan Kim; Min Jhon; Jae-Min Kim; Stefan Smesny; Simon Rice; Michael Berk; Claudia M Klier; Patrick D McGorry; Miriam R Schäfer; G. Paul Amminger. (In Press). Relationship between erythrocyte fatty acid composition and psychopathology in the Vienna omega-3 study. Accepted 28/02/16 for publication in PLoS ONE.

38. Rice S, Robinson J, Bendall S, Hetrick S, Cox G, Bailey G, Gleeson G, Alvarez-Jimenez. (In Press). Online

and social media suicide prevention interventions for young people: A focus on implementation and moderation. Accepted 24/02/16 for publication in Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

37. Rice SM, Purcell R, De Silva S, Mawren D, McGorry PD, Parker A. (In Press). The mental health of elite

athletes: A narrative systematic review. Accepted 24/01/16 for publication in Sports Medicine.

36. Alvarez-Jimenez M., Gleeson JF, Rice S., Gonzalez-Blanch C.,Bendall S (In Press).Online Peer-To-Peer Support in Youth Mental Health: Seizing the opportunity. Accepted 21/12/15 for publication in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.

35. Rice, S. M., McIver, L., (In Press). Climate change and mental health: Rationale for research and intervention

planning. Accepted 29/12/15 for publication in Asian Journal of Psychiatry.

34. Rice, SM, Aucote HM, Eleftheriadis, D, Möller-Leimkühler AM, (In Press). Prevalence and coincidence of internalising and externalising depression symptoms in Australian male truck drivers. Accepted 07/12/15 for publication in American Journal of Men’s Health.

33. Rice, SM, Aucote HM, Möller-Leimkühler AM, Parker AG, Kaplan, RA, & Amminger, GP (In Press). Men’s

depression symptoms, masculinity and the mediating role of shame: Findings from a community sample of Australian men. Accepted 02/11/15 for publication in International Journal of Men’s Health.

32. Quinn AL, Dean OM, Davey CG, Kerr M, Harrigan SM, Cotton SM, Chanen AM, Dodd S, Ratheesh A, Amminger P, Phelan, Williams, Giorlando, Baird S, Rice, S, O’Shea M, Schäfer M, Mullen E, Hetrick S, McGorry P, Berk M (In Press). Youth Depression Alleviation: Augmentation with an anti-inflammatory agent (YoDA-A): Protocol and rationale for a placebo-controlled randomised trial of rosuvastatin and aspirin. Accepted 10/09/15 for publication in Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

31. Rice, SM, Aucote, HM, Parker, A, Alvarez-Jimenez, M, Filia, K, & Amminger, GP. (In Press). Men’s perceived barriers to help seeking for depression: Longitudinal findings relative to symptom onset and duration. Accepted 19/08/15 for publication in Journal of Health Psychology.

30. Treeby, MS, Prado, C, Rice SM, Crowe, S. (In Press). Initial evidence for a positive relationship between guilt-proneness and facial emotion recognition ability. Accepted 09/07/15 for publication in Cognition and Emotion.

29. Rice, SM, Schäfer MR, Klier, C, Mossaheb, N., Vijayakumar N, Amminger GP. (In Press). Erythrocyte

polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in young people at ultra-high risk for psychotic disorder and healthy adolescent controls. Psychiatry Research, 228 (1), 174-176.

28. Brown, A., Rice SM, Rickwood, D., Parker, AG. (In Press). Systematic review of barriers and

facilitators to accessing and engaging with mental health care among at-risk young people. Accepted 17/03/15 for publication in Asia-Pacific Psychiatry.

27. Rice, S. M., Aucote, H., Moller-Leimkuhler, A., M., & Amminger, G. P. (In Press). Psychometric evaluation of

the Gotland Male Depression Scale: Confirmatory factor analysis using a community sample. Accepted

 

14/02/15 for publication in European Journal of Psychological Assessment.

26. Rice, S. M., Hickie, I., Yung, A., Mackinnon, A., Berk, M., Davey, C., Hermens, D., Hetrick, S., Parker, A., McGorry, P., & Amminger, G. (In Press). Youth Depression Alleviation: The Fish Oil Youth Depression Study (YoDA-F). A randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled treatment trial. Accepted 23/06/14 for publication in Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

25. Hetrick S., Cox G., Fisher, C., Parker, A., Bhar, S., Davey, C., & Rice, S. (In Press). Back to basics: could

behavioural therapy be a better treatment option for youth depression? A critical review. Accepted 28/02/14 for publication in Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

24. Rice, S. M., Aucote, H., Moller-Leimkuhler, A.., Treeby, M., & Amminger, G. P. (2015). Longitudinal sex

differences of externalising and internalising depression symptom trajectories: Implications for assessment of depression in men. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 61(3), 236–240.

23. Fallon. B. J., & Rice, S. M. (2015). Investment in staff development within an emergency services

organisation: comparing future intention of volunteers and paid employees. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(4), 485–500.

22. Hetrick SE, Bailey, A, Rice, SM, Simmons, MB, McKenzie, JE, Parker, AG. (2015). A qualitative analysis of

the descriptions of the nature of CBT tested in clinical trials. Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 4(1), 1–8.

21. Allott, K., Rice, S., Bartholomeusz, C., Klier, C., Schlögelhofer, M., & GP. Amminger (2015). Emotion recognition in unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with first-episode schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 161, 322–328.

20. Amminger, G. P, Rice, S., Kim, S., Klier, C., McNamara, R., Berk, M., McGorry, P., Schäfer, M. (2015).

Predictors of treatment response in young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis who received long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Translational Psychiatry, 5, e495, 1–7.

19. Lavoie, S., Whitford, T., Kim, S., Rice, S. M., Benninger, F., Feucht, M., Klier, C., Schäfer, M, Amminger G.

P. (2015). Brain resting state associated with vigilance states correlates with erythrocyte membranes docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid levels in individuals at ultra high risk for psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1–8, doi: 0004867415571168.

18. Sung-Wan, K., Schäfer, M. R., Klier, C. M., Berk, M., Rice, S., Allott, K., Bartholomeusz, C. F., Whittle, S., K.,

Pilioussis, E., Pantelis, C., McGorry, P. D. Amminger G. P. (2014). Relationship between membrane fatty acids and cognitive impairment in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 158, 39–44.

Selected Conference Presentations (Oral & Poster)

36. Rice, S, Alvaerez, M., Gleeson, J., Lederman, R., Wadley, G., Bendall, S., Hetrick, S., Parker, A., McGorry, P. (2015, December). Moderated online social therapy for depression relapse prevention in young people: A 12- week pilot demonstrating acceptability, feasibility, usability and safety. Paper presented in symposium at the 2015 Annual Society for Mental Health Research Conference, Brisbane.

35. Rice, S, Aucote, H., Parker, A., Alvarez, M, Filia, K., & Amminger, P. (2015, December). Men’s perceived barriers to help seeking for depression: Longitudinal findings relative to symptom onset and duration. Poster presented at the 2015 Annual Society for Mental Health Research Conference, Brisbane.

34. Rice, S. M., Gleeson, J., Hetrick, S., Parker, A., Gilbertson, T., Davey C., McGorry, P., Gleeson, J., Alvarez- Jimenez, M. (2015, October). Moderated online social therapy for depression relapse prevention: Outcomes from the Latitudes 12- week pilot study. Paper presented at the International Association of youth Mental Health Conference, Montreal.

33. Rice, S. M., Goodall, J., Hetrick, S., Parker, A., Gilbertson, T., Amminger, G. P., Davey C., McGorry, P., Gleeson, J., Alvarez-Jimenez, M. (2015, May). Online and Social Networking Interventions for the Treatment of Depression in Young People: A Systemic Review. Poster presented at the 2015 Melbourne Health Research Week Symposium, Melbourne.

31. Rice, S. M., Goodall, J., Hetrick, S., Parker, A., Gilbertson, T., Amminger, G. P., Davey C., McGorry, P., Gleeson, J., Alvarez-Jimenez, M. (2014, November). Online and Social Networking Interventions for the Treatment of Depression in Young People. Poster presented at the 9th International Conference on Early Psychosis, Tokyo.

6. Referees a. 1 written ‘reference’ from someone familiar with the research – please see below, provided by: A/Prof. Mario Alvarez-Jimenez

b. 1 referee who may be contacted by phone: Prof. John Gleeson, Head of School, Australian Catholic University john.Gleeson@acu.edu.au ; 03 9953 3212

Re: TheMHS 2015 Early Career Research Award –Reference for Dr Simon Rice I undoubtedly support Dr Rice’s application for the TheMHS 2015 Early Career Research Award. I have provided Dr Rice with direct mentorship and supervision since 2012. Throughout this period, Dr Rice has consistently shown a remarkable commitment to his research and clinical roles, going above and beyond my expectations in terms of work ethic, leadership potential, initiative and quality of his outputs (as clearly evidenced by his CV). Dr Rice led the successful Latitudes pilot study (including securing a $200,000 category A grant). This study evaluated a word-first peer-led online social media intervention for young people with depression and laid the foundation for his ongoing work in youth e-mental health. Over the course of this study Dr Rice demonstrated leadership capacity coupled with remarkable dedication and clinical knowledge. He is a team player and his contribution to the research program has been exceptional, expanding our research capacity and expertise and supporting our outstanding growth in terms of grant funding and number of research projects. Since completing his PhD in 2012, Dr Rice has shown high productivity including attracting over $1.9M in competitive funding. He currently holds an Early Carer Fellowship from the Society for Mental Health Research (valued at $100,000), has made 22 presentations at national and international conferences (including invited presentations at Stanford University and Facebook headquarters at Silicon Valley), has published 39 peer-reviewed articles (57% as first author) and attained highly competitive research awards (e.g., 2014 Society for Mental Health Research Early Career Scholar Award, 2013 Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Best Debut Oral Presentation, 2015 Beck Institute Philadelphia Postdoctoral Scholarship). He will be a funded visiting fellow to the University of British Colombia, in Vancouver in October 2016. Dr Rice is based in my team (Online Interventions & Innovation Research) at the Centre for Youth Mental Health (University of Melbourne) and Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health. Orygen is the largest youth mental health focused organisation in the world. For over two decades, Orygen has had international influence on the creation of a clinical and research focus on youth mental health. Of particular relevance to this application, our research group has internationally led the development of youth-focused and youth-led online social media interventions. Since 2010, the online interventions team has been involved in 15 successful grant applications totaling over $7M in competitive funding. The online research program spans across 3 Australian and 2 international universities, 5 university departments, 9 research projects (including 2 large RCTs of online interventions to promote long-term recovery youth mental health) and 6 clinical services. Importantly, we have established an ongoing and productive collaboration with headspace national office and e-headspace (Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation). This will enable the conduct and successful completion of Dr Rice’s future research endeavors, into population-level youth e-mental health interventions. Finally, we have ready access to state-of-the-art technologies (e.g., fast and secure online servers, Internet-enabled devices, wearable technology, modern usability and testing labs, etc.) as well as frontline clinical services (i.e., Orygen Youth Health Clinical Program, headspace services, eheadspace) providing care to thousands of young people suffering from mental disorders. Thus, we have direct access to the target clinical population. In sum, Dr Rice is an emerging research leader in youth mental health and online interventions with an exceptional potential to become an international leader in the field. His high level of productivity, work ethic, research and clinical skills (being a prolific researcher as well as a registered and practicing clinical psychologist) together with his demonstrated leadership make him an exceptional candidate for the TheMHS 2015 Early Career ResearchAward. This award will further propel Dr Rice to research independence, both supporting his career and contributing to a highly innovative and key area of research with potential to help thousands of vulnerable young people across Australia and internationally. I therefore have no hesitation to endorse this application and will continue to support Dr Rice in his research career.

A/Prof Mario Alvarez-Jimenez PhD DClinPsy MAResearchMeth Head Online Interventions and Innovation Research Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health The University of Melbourne

7. Supporting Material (maximum 2 pages)

Figure 1: Characteristics of the Rebound intervention.

Figure 2: Examples of Rebound postcards sent via Australia Post (to help maintain engagement).