Since 75 percent of mental disorders start before the age of 25, early detection and intervention in young people is critical to prevent mild symptoms from becoming chronic. Unfortunately, professional help-seeking and access to care are low in this group. Australia is world leading in reforming youth mental health with over 100 youth-friendly, low-stigma community Headspace centers in which youngsters, their family and friends can seek help for general health and education problems, drug use and (emerging) psychiatric symptoms. These centers provide early detection and treatment of psychiatric symptoms as well as personalized health care for young people aged 12-25 years.  

The aim of this project is the adaptation and translation of the Australian website eHeadspace Generation Next (GN) for the Netherlands together with a youth panel and to assess its effectiveness in supporting young people 12-25 years with mental health problems. eHeadspace GN has been developed in Australia over the past 10 years. It integrates the one-to-one service of first generation eHeadspace with the Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) platform. Within eHeadspace GN young people are able to request immediate contact with a clinician. However, they are also able to connect with others, team-up to achieve goals, obtain peer support, take positive interpersonal risks, practice therapeutic techniques, or quietly do their own thing, browsing content and reading the social feed.  In addition to the effectiveness of eHeadspace GN, the relationship between stress biomarkers, symptoms and outcome measures that are relevant for subjects who use the eHeadspace GN website is also object of this study.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with

• An MSc degree in psychology or a related background and clinical research interest.
• Good communicative skills
• Team player in a challenging multi-disciplinary environmen
• Demonstrable interest in eHealth
• Excellent command of spoken and written English

Working at AMC means working in an inspiring and professional environment in which developing one`s talents and skills is encouraged. The PhD candidate will be appointed in a part-time position (28 hours/week) for a period of four years. Gross monthly salary for full time PhD candidates range from € 2.279,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.919,- per month in the fourth year (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). In addition to this, we offer a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. Appointment takes place at AMC Medical Research BV.

AMC Medical Research

The AMC is more than just a hospital. It is a world in which patient care, research and education are integrated, and in which people are always central. It is an academic world full of possibilities for talented individuals that are looking for a place where they can excel. Thinking big, daring to dream, cooperating internationally. And never letting yourself be put off by ‘It’s not possible’ or ’It won’t work anyway’. That is the AMC mentality.

http://www.amc.nl/

This PhD student position is employed within the project titled “ENgage YOung people early (ENYOY)”, funded by ZonMw. The project is embedded in a multidisciplinary research and clinical setting involving the Academic Medical Center (AMC), Free University (VUmc), De Bascule, University of Maastricht, Buurtzorg Nederland, Trimbos Institute and University of Melbourne, Australia.

The appointment of the PhD student is at the Department of Psychiatry of the AMC in Amsterdam and he/she will sometimes be at the other participating centers.