School of Nursing and Midwifery

Psychosocial Interventions Clinical Trials Group (PICT)

Bringing Mental Health Support Closer to Communities

Based within the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University, the Psychosocial Interventions Clinical Trials Group (PICT) brings together researchers, clinicians, consumers and community partners to improve access to evidence-based psychosocial interventions through high-quality clinical trials and implementation research.

PICT conducts high-quality research to improve access to effective, brief and scalable psychosocial interventions for people who may otherwise have limited access to specialist mental health services. Working in partnership with health services, schools and community organisations, PICT evaluates how evidence-based interventions can be successfully implemented in real-world settings to improve mental health outcomes. Through community-based research, PICT aims to strengthen local services, build workforce capability and improve access to mental health support, contributing to healthier and more resilient communities.

Psychosocial interventions are evidence-based approaches that improve mental health by addressing the relationship between thoughts, emotions, behaviours and everyday life. These interventions include approaches such as Behavioural Activation, Adherence Therapy, Working with Families and other brief psychological strategies that can often be delivered by trained health or community workers under appropriate supervision. By focusing on interventions that are practical, effective and scalable, PICT seeks to make high-quality mental health support more accessible to the people and communities who need it most.

Improving Health and Wellbeing

PICT conducts research to better understand how psychosocial interventions can improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living with common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, serious mental health conditions including schizophrenia, and the psychological impacts of chronic physical health conditions. Working in partnership with consumers, health services and community organisations, PICT develops, evaluates and implements practical, evidence-based interventions that can be integrated into routine care. By improving access to effective psychosocial interventions, PICT aims to enhance mental health, support recovery and improve quality of life.

Supporting Communities with the Greatest Need

PICT is committed to improving equitable access to mental health support for individuals and communities who experience the greatest barriers to care. Research focuses on developing, evaluating and implementing interventions that can be delivered where they are needed most.

Priority groups include:

• Rural and remote communities
• Young people
• Older adults
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• People living with chronic physical health conditions
• People transitioning from hospital to community care

Our Research Themes

PICT's research is organised around several interconnected themes that aim to improve mental health care through evidence generation and implementation:

• Behavioural Activation, Adherence Therapy and Family Interventions
• Implementation science and knowledge translation
• Rural, regional and remote mental health
• Consumer and community co-design
• Clinical trials and health services research
• Workforce development and capacity building
• Mental health and chronic physical health
• Digital and technology-enabled models of care

Current Research Programs

Current research within PICT includes:

• Behavioural Activation and Alcohol Use.
• Psychosocial interventions to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people following stroke.
• School-based implementation of digital Behavioural Activation to improve adolescent mental health.
• Psychosocial interventions to improve the physical health and wellbeing of people living with schizophrenia.
• Behavioural Activation for people living with chronic pain.
• Behavioural Activation for older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
• Psychosocial interventions to reduce suicide risk.
• Consumer led maternal mental health services.

Turning Research into Real-World Impact

PICT works closely with health, education and community partners to ensure research findings are translated into sustainable improvements in policy and practice. By co-designing and evaluating implementation strategies, the group seeks to embed evidence-based psychosocial interventions into routine services where they can have the greatest impact.

Over the next five years, PICT aims to expand its research programs across Western Australia, Australia and internationally. By embedding proven approaches into everyday settings, PICT seeks to create lasting improvements in mental health care, workforce capability and community wellbeing.

Building the next generation of researchers

PICT is committed to developing the next generation of researchers in psychosocial interventions and implementation science. Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students join a vibrant, multidisciplinary research team focused on improving access to evidence-based mental health care across diverse populations and settings. Students receive supervision and mentorship from leading researchers at Edith Cowan University while collaborating with nationally and internationally recognised leaders in psychosocial interventions, implementation science and clinical research.

Through involvement in clinical trials, implementation research, co-design and community-engaged research, HDR students develop the knowledge, skills and professional networks needed to become future leaders in mental health research and translation.

Contact Details

PICT is co-led by Professor Martin Jones and  Associate Professor Irene Ngune.

We welcome enquiries from prospective Higher Degree by Research students, researchers, clinicians, health services and community organisations interested in collaboration.

Email: martin.jones@ecu.edu.au or i.ngune@ecu.edu.au