Scarlett Smout – The Conversation

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July 2, 2026

How much do friends influence teens’ mental health? What a new study can (and can’t) tell us

Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney; Louise Birrell, University of Sydney, and Tim Slade, University of Sydney

This study shows peers are linked to mental health. But this doesn’t mean anxiety and depression are ‘contagious’.

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June 17, 2025

We tracked Aussie teens’ mental health. The news isn’t good – and problems are worse for girls

Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney and Katrina Champion, University of Sydney

In a new study, researchers tracked mental health symptoms in more than 6,500 Australian high school students from Year 7 to Year 10.

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July 9, 2024

New research shows small lifestyle changes are linked to differences in teen mental health over time

Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney; Katrina Champion, University of Sydney, and Lauren Gardner, University of Sydney

On average, when looking at change between Year 7 and 10, every one-hour increase in sleep per night was linked to a 9% reduction in psychological distress.

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June 6, 2022

What’s taking the biggest toll on our mental health? Disconnection, financial stress and long waits for care

Marlee Bower, University of Sydney; Maree Teesson, University of Sydney; Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney, and Amarina Donohoe-Bales, University of Sydney

We asked over 1,000 Australians about their mental health concerns. Without being prompted, participants consistently highlighted three: service barriers, financial stress, and social disconnection.

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