Deakin Health

Over the past decade, we’ve seen a profound shift in how the world understands the relationship between food, mood and mental health. I’m proud that the Food & Mood Centre has helped drive that change. When I founded the Centre in 2017, we were a small team with a big aim: to understand how what we eat influences our brain and mood, and to translate that evidence into real-world impact. Today, we’ve grown to more than fifty staff and students working across everything from microbiology to public health, all united by a belief that nutrition is fundamental to mental and brain health. Our research has now been cited in over 130 global policy documents, informed clinical guidelines, shaped public health knowledge and supported new ways of preventing and treating mental disorders. We’ve also created accessible pathways for anyone to engage with this field, from our evidence-based resources to our online courses for both the community and healthcare professionals. But we’re only just beginning. As rates of mental disorders continue to rise globally, the need for science-backed, nutrition-based strategies has never been more urgent. If you’re interested in how diet can support better mental and brain health – whether you’re a clinician, researcher, policymaker, or simply someone wanting to understand the science – I invite you to explore our work. 🔗 Visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gEMYX2mc

We’re delighted to share a new chapter for one of Victoria’s long-standing voices in community and lived-experience engagement. The Institute for Health Transformation's Health Consumers Centre has officially become Health Voices Victoria – a name shaped through months of co-design with community members, practitioners, researchers and sector partners. This new identity truly reflects what this work has always been about: championing and supporting the engagement of communities and people with lived experience within health and related sectors. It honours a legacy that began nearly 40 years ago, while signalling a future grounded in collaboration, clarity and shared voice. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCRuTd7x

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere – but small changes can make a big difference. Dr Wolfgang Marx, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director of Deakin’s Food & Mood Centre, shares simple evidence-informed strategies to help reduce ultra-processed food intake and improve overall diet quality. A globally recognised expert in Nutritional Psychiatry, Dr Marx’s research highlights a powerful truth: the quality of your diet doesn’t just affect your body, it directly impacts your brain and mood.

New Deakin research has uncovered a hidden risk in using generative AI for academic writing: One in five citations produced by AI tools like ChatGPT are completely fabricated, with many more containing major errors. This study highlights why human oversight remains essential – especially in mental health research where evidence accuracy matters most.

Food insecurity has significant implications for the health of women and their children. New research from the Institute for Health Transformation suggests around one in 10 Australian women experience food insecurity when pregnant, highlighting the need to support women in finding solutions to food insecurity and hunger during pregnancy.

How can we ensure patients receive the best pain management post heart surgery? New research from the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety in the Institute for Health Transformation highlights the need for more effective pain management strategies following heart surgery. Getting pain management right can support better recovery and reduce complications and readmissions.