The Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study will help build one of the largest intergenerational cohort studies in the world focused on mental health and wellbeing.
A $4.5 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council has been awarded to support the establishment of the 18 and Up Study, which will be administered by the Sax Institute.
The 18 and Up Study will create a new cohort of around 300,000 participants by bringing together participants from the 45 and Up Study and recruiting their children and grandchildren.
The new study aims to understand how and why mental health and wellbeing appears to be poorer in younger generations, as well as identify the types of support that provide the best mental health outcomes for young people.
Dr Martin McNamara, Chief Investigator of the 18 and Up Study and the 45 and Up Study and CEO of the Sax Institute, said that he sees enormous potential in this initiative.
“The 18 and Up Study will help us understand the life story of younger people and the differences in mental health across generations. I’m humbled to be part of this work, and I hope that the study will help shape the way support is provided for future generations.”
The 18 and Up Study project involves a team of internationally regarded Chief Investigators: Professor Jane Pirkis, University of Melbourne; Professor Sharon Lawn, Lived Experience Australia; Dr Xenia Dolja-Gore, University of Newcastle; Professor Tim Slade, University of Sydney; Professor Craig Olsson, Deakin University; Professor Matthew Spittal, University of Melbourne; Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos, Monash University; Professor Samuel Harvey, Black Dog Institute; and Dr Kerrin Bleicher.
Recruitment to the study is expected to be underway in 2026, with survey data to be collected at multiple time points and linked to administrative data.
“A long-term initiative like the 18 and Up Study will not only help answer important questions about mental health in Australia, but it will provide other opportunities to address a myriad of health and social issues, much like the 45 and Up Study has done.”
The 45 and Up Study has followed more than 260,000 Australian adults for almost 20 years, making it one of the longest ongoing studies into health and ageing in the world. Data from the 45 and Up Study has supported important cancer research, informed national policy on tobacco control and alcohol guidelines, as well as the establishment of the national lung cancer screening program. The 45 and Up Study has also supported recent groundbreaking research into dementia as well as diabetes and cardiovascular health.
Since 2020, the 45 and Up Study has surveyed participants about their experience of mental health and wellbeing, which has already generated important insights into loneliness and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in older Australians.
PUBLICATION DATE
21 May 2025
PEOPLE
Dr Martin McNamara, Professor Jane Pirkis, Professor Sharon Lawn, Dr Xenia Dolja-Gore, Professor Tim Slade, Professor Craig Olsson, Professor Matthew Spittal, Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos, Professor Samuel Harvey, Dr Kerrin Bleicher
