News and Updates

The SPARX randomised controlled trial has been published in the prestigious British Medical Journal and the image above was on the cover of the British Medical Journal in May 2012 in that month. 12,611 people had accessed the full text version of the SPARX article online. We are working on ways to make SPARX available to people, but SPARX’s release will depend on funding.

SPARX-related publicity

• The New Zealand Listener
• BMJ podcast
• Daily Mail (UK)
• El Mundo (Spain)
• Associate Professor Sally Merry's talk on New Zealand's TV One Breakfast (2012)
• Gaming for Better Mental Health: Maru Nihoniho from Metia Interactive talks to Radio New Zealand (2 June 2011) (web | mp3)
• Interactivity and innovation put Kiwis on top at World Summit Awards (June 2011)
• Media Statement - Minister congratulates World Summit Award finalists (April 2011)
• Research works wonders: Can we use video games to treat depression? (University of Auckland, April 2011
• Topnews health website feature (July 2010)
• Stuff website feature (May 2010)
• Ingenio article – The University of Auckland Alumni Magazine (Spring, 2010)
• Associate Professor Sally Merry’s talk on New Zealand’s TV One Breakfast (2009)
• SPARX trailer on YouTube

Useful Links

• The Werry Centre (www.werrycentre.org.nz)
  The Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health is a
  national centre. It is based in the Department of Psychological
  Medicine at The University of Auckland. The aim of The Werry Centre
  is to improve the mental health of New Zealand infants, children and young people.

• The Low Down (www.thelowdown.co.nz)
  A resource for young people that helps them to understand
  and deal with depression.

• Metia Interactive (www.metia.co.nz)
  An Auckland based computer game development company.

• Adapt (www.nihi.auckland.ac.nz/page/current-research/adapt)
  A novel mobile phone-based depression prevention programme for adolescents.