Research recognised on genital focused body image concerns

Congratulations to Dr Gemma Sharp, who was a finalist for Best International Paper in Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 

Her paper, titled "Genital self-image and aesthetic genital surgeries: Novel perspectives across the cisgender and transgender spectrum", showcases much of her own research on genital focused body image concerns and genital surgeries in cisgender women and men. This, she says, is a very under-recognised area in body image research, but has important impacts for psychological and sexual well-being as well as self-identity. In this paper, Dr Sharp calls for more research to be undertaken with people who identify as transgender who likely experience a complex interplay of gender dysphoria and genital body image concerns.

Investing in AI and mental health: training our future graduates

The Women's Mental Health Clinic (WMHC) in CCS's Department

of Psychiatry is one of the collaborating members of the successful

 bid for the CSIRO Next Generation Graduates Program

With strong support from industry and in partnership with Monash Data Futures Institute, the Faculty of IT at Monash University will be leading and contributing to three projects in CSIRO Data61’s Next Gen Graduates Programs – ready to deliver critical skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging tech.

The cohort-based, industry-driven, cross-disciplinary training program focuses on expanding the pipeline of homegrown, job-ready graduates to unlock the immense economic opportunities offered by AI and emerging technologies.

Body image issues loom large: Gemma Sharp gives three top KIT tips

Dr Gemma Sharp prepping for the documentary

When a distorted sense of yourself becomes pathological, you could have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is getting more common and more extreme. Why?

Dr Gemma Sharp was one of the experts interviewed in Channel 10's recently broadcast (8-9 September 2021) documentary "Mirror, Mirror" by Todd Sampson to answer that question. She also participated in the Facebook Live chat after the screening. See below for some of the questions asked. 

Dr Sharp has also won a grant from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) of Clinical Psychologists 2021 Research Grant Award for futher development of her team's world-first body image chatbot "KIT", which helps people experiencing body image concerns while they are on social media. The grant will be used to improve KIT's conversational abilities, with KIT having spoken with more than 20,000 people already! 

KIT body image chatbot even more chatty

More than one million Australians are living with an eating disorder, but less than one in four of them will seek help. Dr Gemma Sharp and the team which have created the KIT body image chatbot have a new campaign launched today as part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Dr Sharp says, "Owing to the popularity of KIT's coping skills conversations, we've added even more skills! These are new mindfulness strategies which we know are helpful for a range of mental health issues including eating disorders. Come and chat to KIT today!"

Hear more from Gemma about her research & the KIT chatbot here: youtu.be/PuGZi6gF-Sk

Link: butterfly.org.au/chattokit/

Meet KIT: World First Body Image Chatbot

Check out the KIT body image chatbot

Body image issues is an epidemic of its own. With over 30 per cent of Australia’s young people extremely concerned about their body image, a chatbot called KIT has been designed to educate and provide information for those seeking help.

Early Career Research Award for Dr Gemma Sharp

Congratulations to Dr Gemma Sharp, who has been awarded the Australian Psychological Society's (APS) Early Career Researcher award for 2020! See all APS winners here.

Dr Sharp is a Senior Research Fellow at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), Monash University. She leads the Body Image Research Group at MAPrc and holds a prestigious NHMRC Early Career Fellowship. She is known for her pioneering research in body image, particularly genital self-image. She is also involved in the design of novel body image interventions using digital technologies, which is supported by a number of competitive grants (e.g., AMP Tomorrow Maker Grant).