The University of Melbourne
Research Field: Public Health
Research shows that stressful jobs, being in insecure work, and being unemployed, increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Dr. Milner believes these factors also increase suicide risk in the population, and these risks can be alleviated by improving the quality of work, reducing adverse working conditions and promoting the protective factors that come with having a job, such as meaning and dignity. In her research she investigates how work influences mental health and suicide risk. In addition to progressing knowledge in this area, she seeks to develop responses to the risks posed by problematic working conditions through conducting and evaluating intervention trials in this area.
Allison engages with industry bodies interested in progressing suicide prevention in the workplace on funded projects, including “Thriving workplaces” and “Suicide in the construction and building industry”. Recently she has been invited as an expert advisor to sit on a newly developed suicide prevention foundation “Roses in the ocean” and has worked with Suicide Prevention Australia to write position statements on suicide prevention in the workplace.