Pacific scholar centres families in youth mental health study

Doctoral candidate Georgia Hulme is putting families at the centre of youth mental health research, exploring how parents and caregivers navigate the challenges of supporting young people.

Now in her second year of the Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Georgia is combining lived experience with academic rigour to better understand what meaningful support looks like for families.

Her research focuses on a group she says is often overlooked.

“Parents and caregivers are deeply involved in their young person’s journey, but their perspectives aren’t always centred,” she says.

“I want to understand what support actually feels meaningful from their point of view.”

Her ancestry stretches across oceans. On her mother’s side, she traces connections to England, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden, while her father’s lineage links to England (Liverpool) and Sāmoa (Lalomalava, Lepa and Aleipata).

“I hope my research amplifies voices that are often under-represented or misunderstood,” she says.

As part of her doctoral work, Georgia is currently interviewing parents and caregivers across Aotearoa, gathering in-depth insights that she says are largely missing from mainstream conversations about youth mental health.

From lived experience to research impact

Georgia began her studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau in 2021, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communications, followed by Honours in Psychology, before entering the highly competitive clinical programme.

Alongside her research, she is undertaking clinical placement - most recently at Aronui Ora, a perinatal mental health service at Greenlane. Perinatal is the period spanning from around 20–28 weeks of pregnancy through to the first week of a newborn’s life.

Georgia describes the experience as eye-opening.

“Working in the perinatal space showed me how complex and demanding things can be for parents,” she says.

“It gave me a much deeper appreciation of what families are carrying.”

Her interest in youth mental health was first sparked much closer to home.

“I was someone who struggled when I was younger, and I saw my younger sibling and friends go through similar experiences,” she says.

“But it wasn’t until later, when I sat down with my parents and really heard their perspective, that I began to understand how much they were holding too.”

That insight now underpins her research - ensuring families are not just included, but heard.

Looking ahead

Georgia hopes to complete her doctorate and register as a clinical psychologist, with a focus on supporting children, adolescents and Pacific communities.

“I want to support our young Pasifika to flourish,” she says.

She credits her progress to strong support networks.

"My family and friends have been central throughout my journey. I’ve also been really fortunate to have had supportive supervisors, lecturers, and mentors that have helped me grow within the academic space over the last couple of years."