Dr Debbie Peterson

2026

Journal - Research Article

King, H., Derrett, S., Wyeth, E. H., Cunningham, R., & Peterson, D. (2026). Integrated care within New Zealand's specialist mental health and addiction services: Qualitative research to inform a new model. Community Mental Health Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10597-026-01623-8

Cunningham, R., Carr, G., Every-Palmer, S., Peterson, D., Haitana, T., Butler, H., … Iupati, S. (2026). Place of death for people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in New Zealand: A national retrospective cohort study. Journal of Palliative Care, 41(2), 151-158. doi: 10.1177/08258597251339868

2025

Journal - Research Article

Foley, I., Basabas, M. C., Jury, A., Haitana, T., Peterson, D., Hider, P., & Cunningham, R. (2025). Ambulatory sensitive hospitalisations among people accessing mental health and addiction services: A retrospective cross-sectional study using national population data. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1621), 55-64. doi: 10.26635/6965.6969

Peterson, D., Imlach, F., & Cunningham, R. (2025). Mental health and aging in New Zealand: mixed-methods analysis of experiences of healthcare from a survey of older adults with mental health conditions. Kōtuitui, 20(1), 83-97. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2024.2344511

2024

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Artus, J., Imlach, F., Stanley, J., Haitana, T., Lockett, H., Peterson, D., & Gerard, C. (2024). Primary care experience in people with mental health conditions: Results from a national patient experience survey. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1606), 22-39. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.org.nz/

Wilson, M., Cram, F., Gibb, S., Gray, S., McLeod, K., Peterson, D., & Lockett, H. (2024). The impact of Individual Placement and Support on employment, health and social outcomes: Quasi-experimental evidence from Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1602), 27-54. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Lockett, H., Every-Palmer, S., Clark, M. T. R., Lacey, C., Telfer, K., & Peterson, D. (2024). Cancer diagnosis after emergency presentations in people with mental health and substance use conditions: A national cohort study. BMC Cancer, 24, 546. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12292-9

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Clark, M. T. R., Every-Palmer, S., Lockett, H., & Peterson, D. (2024). Experiences of physical healthcare services in Māori and non-Māori with mental health and substance use conditions. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58(7), 591-602. doi: 10.1177/00048674241238958

2023

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Every-Palmer, S., Haitana, T., & Peterson, D. (2023). Dealing with discrimination in physical health care services: Strategies of people with mental health and substance use conditions. Journal of Patient Experience, 10, 1-7. doi: 10.1177/23743735231211778

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Every-Palmer, S., Lacey, C., Lockett, H., & Peterson, D. (2023). It’s not in my head: A qualitative analysis of experiences of discrimination in people with mental health and substance use conditions seeking physical healthcare. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1285431. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1285431

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Lockett, H., Lacey, C., Haitana, T., Every-Palmer, S., Clark, M. T. R., & Peterson, D. (2023). Do patients with mental health and substance use conditions experience discrimination and diagnostic overshadowing in primary care in Aotearoa New Zealand? Results from a national online survey. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(2), 112-121. doi: 10.1071/HC23015

Lian, A., Carr, G., Peterson, D., Jenkin, G., Lockett, H., Every-Palmer, S., & Cunningham, R. (2023). Still in the shadows: A national study of acute mental health unit location across New Zealand hospitals. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 21. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-09004-z

Cooper, A., Jenkin, G., Morton, E., Peterson, D., & McKenzie, S. K. (2023). ‘We have to band together’: Service user experiences of naturally occurring peer support on the acute mental health unit. Kōtuitui, 18(2), 118-134. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2022.2093230

2022

Journal - Research Article

Jenkin, G., McIntosh, J., Marques, B., Peterson, D., Chrysikou, E., & Every-Palmer, S. (2022). Contemporary issues in acute mental health facility design: Insights from the Aotearoa-New Zealand experience. Kōtuitui. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2022.2093229

Jenkin, G., Quigg, S., Paap, H., Cooney, E., Peterson, D., & Every-Palmer, S. (2022). Places of safety? Fear and violence in acute mental health facilities: A large qualitative study of staff and service user perspectives. PLoS ONE, 17(5), e0266935. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266935

Journal - Research Other

Every-Palmer, S., Koning, A., Smith, L., Cunningham, R., Lacey, C., Peterson, D., … Scott, K. M., Dowell, T., … Lockett, H. (2022). Structural discrimination in the COVID-19 vaccination programme for people with mental health and addiction issues: Now is the time to be equally well. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1550), 121-127. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

2021

Journal - Research Article

Jenkin, G., McIntosh, J., Hoek, J., Mala, K., Paap, H., Peterson, D., Marques, B., & Every-Palmer, S. (2021). There's no smoke without fire: Smoking in smoke-free acute mental health wards. PLoS ONE, 16(11), e0259984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259984

2020

Journal - Research Article

Peterson, D., & Cunningham, R. (2020). Experiencing breast cancer in the context of mental illness in New Zealand. Kōtuitui, 15(1), 236-245. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2020.1728346

2019

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Poppe, K., Peterson, D., Every-Palmer, S., Soosay, I., & Jackson, R. (2019). Prediction of cardiovascular disease risk among people with severe mental illness: A cohort study. PLoS ONE, 14(9), e0221521. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221521

Cunningham, R., Peterson, D., & Sims, A. (2019). Specialist mental health care for older adults in New Zealand: An exploration of service models and routine data. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1489), 30-38. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Cunningham, R., Peterson, D., Poppe, K., Every-Palmer, S., & Jackson, R. (2019). Do we need a different tool for predicting cardiovascular risk among people with severe mental illness? Proceedings of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) New Zealand Conference. Retrieved from https://www.ranzcp2019.co.nz

2018

Commissioned Report for External Body

Cunningham, R., Kvalsvig, A., Peterson, D., Kuehl, S., Gibb, S., McKenzie, S., Thornley, L., & Every-Palmer, S. (2018). Stocktake report for the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry: A background report prepared for the Inquiry panel. Commissioned by Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry. Wellington, New Zealand: EleMent Research Group, University of Otago. 267p. Retrieved from https://mentalhealth.inquiry.govt.nz/whats-new/resources/university-of-otago-stocktake-report-for-the-mental-health-and-addiction-inquiry

2017

Chapter in Book - Research

Cunningham, R., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2017). Like minds, like mine: Seventeen years of countering stigma and discrimination against people with experience of mental distress in New Zealand. In W. Gaebel, W. Rössler & N. Sartorius (Eds.), The stigma of mental illness: The end of the story? (pp. 263-287). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-27839-1_15

Journal - Research Article

Peterson, D., Gordon, S., & Neale, J. (2017). It can work: Open employment for people with experience of mental illness. Work, 56(3), 443-454. doi: 10.3233/wor-172510

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Jenkin, G., Chrysikou, E., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2017). Acute psychiatric facilities: Therapeutic spaces or stigmatising places? Proceedings of the European Healthcare Design Conference. (pp. 163). Retrieved from www.europeanhealthcaredesign.eu

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2016). Cancer survival in the context of mental illness in New Zealand. Proceedings of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) Conference for General Practice. Retrieved from http://www.generalpractice.org.nz/gp16

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2016, October). Cancer survival in the context of mental illness in New Zealand. Verbal presentation at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists New Zealand Conference: Recover, Rebuild, Regenerate, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Commissioned Report for External Body

Suicide Mortality Review Committee, including Jenkin, G., Atkinson, J., McKenzie, S., Peterson, D., Collings, S., & Mulder, R. (2016). Nga- Ra-hui Hau Kura Suicide Mortality Review Committee Feasibility Study 2014–15. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Health Quality & Safety Commission.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Peterson, D. H. M., & Collings, S. C. (2015). "It's either do it or die": The role of self-management of suicidality in people with experience of mental illness. Crisis, 36(3), 173-178. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000308

Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2015). Cancer survival in the context of mental illness: A national cohort study. General Hospital Psychiatry, 37, 501-506. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.06.003

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2015, October). Estimating the effect of recent serious mental illness on breast cancer survival. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Series: Cancer Research, Wellington, New Zealand.

2014

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Peterson, D., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., & Collings, S. (2014). Premature mortality in adults using New Zealand psychiatric services. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1394). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2014). To disclose or not: Does a decision tool help? Evidence-Based Mental Health, 17(2), 61. doi: 10.1136/eb-2013-101677

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Cunningham, R., Peterson, D., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., & Collings, S. (2014). Adults using mental health services die earlier than other New Zealanders. Proceedings of the New Zealand Population Health Congress: Connecting Communities, Policy and Science. (pp. 95). Retrieved from http://www.pophealthcongress.org.nz/nzphc14/programme/programme

Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., Peterson, D., & Collings, S. (2014). How does recent serious mental illness impact on colorectal cancer survival? Australasian Epidemiologist, 21(3), (pp. 69). [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Cunningham, R., Peterson, D., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., & Collings, S. (2014, October). Adults using mental health services die earlier than other New Zealanders. Verbal presentation at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) New Zealand Conference: Deep South Psychiatry, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2011

Journal - Research Article

Peterson, D., Currey, N., & Collings, S. (2011). "You don't look like one of them": Disclosure of mental illness in the workplace as an ongoing dilemma. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 35(2), 145-147. doi: 10.2975/35.2.2011.145.147

2009

Edited Book - Research

Peterson, D., & Gordon, S. (Eds.). (2009). Stepping out of the shadows: Insights into self-stigma and madness. Wellington, New Zealand: CASE Consulting, 206p.

2008

Commissioned Report for External Body

Peterson, D., Barnes, A., & Duncan, C. (2008). Fighting shadows: Self-stigma and mental illness: Whawhai Atu te Whakamā Hihira. Commissioned by Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. 89p.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Peterson, D., Pere, L., Sheehan, N., & Surgenor, G. (2007). Experiences of mental health discrimination in New Zealand. Health & Social Care in the Community, 15(1), 18-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2006.00657.x

Commissioned Report for External Body

Duncan, C., & Peterson, D. (2007). The employment experiences of people with experience of mental illness: Literature review. Commissioned by Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. 64p.

Peterson, D. (2007). I haven't told them, they haven't asked: The employment experiences of people with experience of mental illness. Commissioned by Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. 64p.