Alyssa Morse

The Australian National University

Whose research influences you?

I work across three key areas of interest: 1) understanding how people with lived experience can best contribute meaningfully to health policy, services and research; (2) prevention and promotion in youth mental health; and (3) mental health service evaluation and design. My research is influenced by the work of A/Prof Michelle Banfield and Prof Alison Calear, whom I am very fortunate to have worked with (and still work with!) through my early career.

Are you a lived-experience researcher?

I am a lived experience researcher, working in a peer-identified position.

If so, how does lived or consumer experience shape your research?

My lived experience shapes the way I approach my research, and how I choose to work with the communities it intends to benefit. My personal experience with mental illness grounds my perspective in empathy, supporting me to see my research partners and participants as people first (rather than numbers in a survey). It also highlights the value of incorporating diverse lived experience perspectives in my work.

We’d love you to share an image that represents your topic or passion in mental health research

I am passionate about bringing people together through co-production. Here, a traditional researcher (my senior dog Jasper), and an enthusiastic lived-experience researcher (my puppy Yuki) learn to work together.