Professor Terence V McCann

Prof McCann has over 110 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals, book chapters and reports; and has given over 100 major conference presentations in Australia and internationally.

He has been the recipient of numerous grants, tenders and awards. He has led and collaborated in numerous clinical and public health studies in the mental health and substance use fields, including clinical and health promotion studies.

Prof McCann uses a range of research methodologies, such as surveys, quasi experimental series designs, randomised controlled trials, cluster randomised trials, qualitative methodologies, and mixed methods studies.

His primary research interests include:

• prevention and early intervention with young people in the mental health and substance use fields
• family/primary caregiver interventions
• improving the quality of care of people with mental health disorders. 

Recent publications

Refereed journal articles

Sample of publications from the last 5 years (selected from >110 publications):

Chien, W. T., Thompson, D. R., Lubman, D.I., & McCann, T. V. (2016) A randomized controlled trial of clinician-supported problem-solving bibliotherapy for family caregivers of people with first-episode psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw054 [Epub ahead of print].

McCann, T. V., Songprakun, W., & Stephenson, J. (2015) Effectiveness of guided self-help in decreasing expressed emotion in family carers of people diagnosed with depression in Thailand: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 15:258. doi: 10.1186/s12888-015-0654-z

Reavley, N., McCann, T. V. Cvetkovski, S., & Jorm, A. F. (2014) A multifaceted intervention to improve mental health literacy in students of a multi-campus university: a cluster randomised trial. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49(10), 1655-1666. doi: 10.1007/s00127-014-0880-6.

McCann, T. V., Lubman, D. I., Cotton, S. M., Murphy, B., Crisp, K., Catania, L, Marck, C., & Gleeson, J. F. M. (2013) A randomized controlled trial of bibliotherapy for carers of young people with first-episode psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 39(6), 1307-1317. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbs121.

Songprakun, W., & McCann, T. V. (2012) Evaluation of a bibliotherapy manual for reducing psychological distress in people with depression: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 68(12), 2674-2684. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.05966.x

View more of Prof McCann's publications in VU's Research Repository.

Conference presentations

Sample of conference presentations from the past 5 years (selected from >100 presentations):

McCann, T., Cranwell, K., & Polacsek, M. (2016) Overcoming barriers to service users’ with medical co-morbidity accessing and transitioning through tertiary medical hospital services: Experience based co-design study. 22nd International Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research. Nottingham, England. September.

McCann, T., Renzaho, A., Kyle, A., Mugavin, J. Lubman, D. (2015). Bridging the gap: Educating family members from African migrant communities about seeking help for depression, anxiety and substance in young people. 16th International Mental Health Conference. Gold Coast, August.

McCann, T.V. & Lubman, D. (2014). Problem-solving guided self-help for primary carers of young people with first-episode psychosis. Proceedings of the 4^thSchizophrenia International Research Society Conference. Florence, Italy. April.

McCann, T.V., Cotton, S., & Lubman, D., Gleeson, J., Crisp, K., & Murphy, B. (2013). Guided self-help for family carers of young people with a first episode of Psychosis: Randomised controlled trial. Proceedings of the 20th International Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research. Coventry, England. September.

McCann, T. V. (2013) Bibliotherapy for primary carers of young people with a first episode of psychosis: Randomised controlled trial. Proceedings of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 39th Annual International Conference. Perth. October.

Research grants

Sample of research grants selected from >$9 million funding:

• Lubman, D., Lloyd, B., Cunningham, J., Carter, G., Kyrios, M., Webb, G., McCann, T. et al. Funded by beyondblue/ Movember Foundation: $2,757,000. Beyond the Emergency: Improving men’s access to care: a national ambulance approach to reduce suicide and to improve the mental health of men and boys.
• Cranwell, K., Power, R., McCann, T. V., Kensington, L., Silva, J. A. & Boardman, G. 2014. Australian Primary Healthcare Research Institute grant: $150,000 Join the conversation: evaluating the effectiveness of experience based co-design in improving the client experience of mental health transition across health sector interfaces.
• McCann, T. V., Boardman, G., Lubman, D. I, Best, D., & Fry, C. 2014. VU Central Research Grant Scheme: $27,000. Bridging the gap: Exploring the experience and professional service needs of key family members of adults with substance use problems. Mixed methods study.
• Kerr D, McCann T, Wijeratne T, Mizen J, Mackey E. 2012 VU Early Career Research Development Grant Scheme: $29,989: Effects of early motivational interviewing on post-stroke depressive symptoms: Randomised controlled trial of the Good Mood Intervention program.
• Kerr D, McCann T, Wijeratne T, Mizen J, Mackey E. 2013 National Stroke Foundation: $20,000: Effects of early motivational interviewing on post-stroke depressive symptoms: Randomised controlled trial of the Good Mood Intervention program.
• Lubman, D. I. McCann, T. V. et al. (2012) $145,000 Beyondblue and the Movember Foundation. Enhancing help-seeking for depression, anxiety and substance misuse among young migrants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds by empowering family members to be facilitators of help-seeking.
• $53,573 (plus $66,597 cash and in-kind contributions from stakeholders).Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. McCann, T. V., Muir-Cochrane, E., Baird, J., & Goodwin, V. (2010-2011) Deciphering attitudes, exploring barriers and facilitators toward eliminating restraint and seclusion in inpatient aged psychiatry units. Mixed methods study.
• $25,000 BeyondBlue – The National Depression Initiative (Funding contribution toward this larger project). Jorm, A., McCann, T. V., Reavley, N., Lubman, D. (2010-2012) Preventing mental health problems in young people through better mental health literacy (Phase 2). Cluster randomised controlled design.
• $59,574 Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (Mental Health) (Category 1 Research Grant) (2009) McCann, T. V., Lubman, D., Gleeson, J., Leggatt, M., Lu, S., & Clark, E. Phase 2: Bibliotherapy for primary caregivers of family members with first-episode psychosis: A randomised controlled trial.
• $56,017 Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (Mental Health) (Category 1 Research Grant) (2008) McCann, T. V., Lubman, D., Gleeson, J., Leggatt, M., Lu, S., & Clark, E. Phase 1: Bibliotherapy for primary caregivers of family members with first-episode psychosis: A randomised controlled trial.

Current research projects

• Beyond the Emergency: Improving men’s access to care: a national ambulance approach to reduce suicide and improve the mental health of men and boys.
• Bridging the Gap: Educating family members from migrant communities about seeking help for depression, anxiety and substance use problems in young people.
• Exploring needs — navigating obstacles: Affected family members supporting adults with substance use problems.
• MAKINGtheLINK, a school-based help-seeking program for students with substance use and mental health problem.
• MindWise – Promoting Mental Health Literacy in university students and staff, specifically focusing on anxiety, depression and substance use

Postgraduate research students and fellows

Completions: 9 PhD students.

Current supervision: 6 PhD students, 1 Masters by research student.

Professional memberships

• International Early Psychosis Association
• Australian College of Mental Health Nurses