Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 4 385 5541
- ruth.cunningham@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Research Associate Professor
- Department
- Department of Public Health (Wellington)
- Qualifications
- MBChB MPH FNZCPHM
- Research summary
- Public health; mental health
Research
Ruth is a public health physician and epidemiologist working in the areas of mental health research, social epidemiology, cancer epidemiology and health services research. The main focus of her current work is mental health epidemiology and the physical health of people with experience of mental health conditions.
Ruth leads the Electronic data for Mental health research (EleMent) group: Te Raraunga Hinengaro. EleMent are a multidisciplinary research group bringing together expertise in epidemiology, public health and data science with clinical and lived experience of mental distress. The group use routinely collected electronic data from health and other sources to understand the distribution and determinants of mental health and mental distress, with a focus is on making the best use of available information to improve the mental health of New Zealanders.
Ruth is principal investigator the Tupuānuku research project funded by the Health Research Council to investigate the factors contributing to inequities in physical health outcomes for people with experience of mental illness or addiction in Aotearoa. Ruth is also working on a number of projects using routine data on mental health service use in New Zealand (PRIMHD) linked to other datasets, including projects examining mental health service use in later life, mental health care in emergency departments, and mental health service provision for Māori. Ruth is also working with Dr Paula King on the health and wellbeing impacts of incarceration for Māori.
Ruth welcomes expressions of interest from masters’ and PhD students.
Publications
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 Journal - Research Article
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 Journal - Research Article
Heinz, S. S., O'Brien, A. J., Walker, C., O'Sullivan, M., Rouse, P., Whitehead, J., … Cunningham, R., & Edmonds, M. (2025). Mediating pathways between resilience, mental health and wellbeing: A scoping review of individual, social, and systemic factors. BMC Public Health, 25, 3758. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24897-1 Journal - Research Other
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 Journal - Research Article
King, P. T., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Davies, C., Robson, B., Crengle, S., Baker, G., … Paki Paki, N., Pehi, T., Cole, M., Jones, B., Ingham, T., Stairmand, J., Tuari-Toma, B., … Cunningham, R. (2025). Health in justice or health injustice? Indigenous Māori experiences of primary care following release from New Zealand prisons: A national record study. Social Science & Medicine, 384, 118543. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118543 Journal - Research Article
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
King, P. T., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Davies, C., Robson, B., Crengle, S., Baker, G., … Paki Paki, N., Pehi, T., Cole, M., Jones, B., Ingham, T., Stairmand, J., Tuari-Toma, B., … Cunningham, R. (2025). Health in justice or health injustice? Indigenous Māori experiences of primary care following release from New Zealand prisons: A national record study. Social Science & Medicine, 384, 118543. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118543
King, P. T., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., McLeod, M., Harris, R., Davies, C., Cormack, D., Ingham, T., Jones, B., Robson, B., … Tuari-Toma, B., Stairmand, J., Cole, M., Pehi, T., … Cunningham, R. (2025). The undercounting of Indigenous Māori imprisoned by the New Zealand carceral state: A national record study. Health & Justice, 13, 48. doi: 10.1186/s40352-025-00355-3
Foulds, J. A., Cunningham, R., Pitcher, T. L., Frampton, C., Kinner, S. A., & Beaglehole, B. (2025). Clinical features and mortality outcomes of people transferred from prison to forensic mental health units: A nationwide 14-year retrospective cohort study. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 60, 2685-2693. doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02893-5
Ataera-Minster, J., Every-Palmer, S., Cunningham, R., & Kokaua, J. (2025). Common mental disorders and psychological distress among Pacific adults living in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1613), 36-49. doi: 10.26635/6965.6780
Ataera-Minster, J., Every-Palmer, S., Cunningham, R., & Kokaua, J. (2025). Psychological distress and diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders in Pacific adults: A pooled analysis of five consecutive New Zealand Health Survey years. Kōtuitui, 20(4), 819-836. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2024.2435453
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
Journal - Research Other
Heinz, S. S., O'Brien, A. J., Walker, C., O'Sullivan, M., Rouse, P., Whitehead, J., … Cunningham, R., & Edmonds, M. (2025). Mediating pathways between resilience, mental health and wellbeing: A scoping review of individual, social, and systemic factors. BMC Public Health, 25, 3758. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24897-1
Hague, K., Crampton, P., Cunningham, R., Gurney, J., Te Huia, B., McElnay, C., … the Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) Secretariat. (2025). We can determine our future health. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1621), 9-12. doi: 10.26635/6965.E1621
Monk, N. J., Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Crengle, S., Fitzjohn, J., Kerdemelidis, M., Lockett, H., McLachlan, A. D., Waitoki, W., & Lacey, C. (2025). Author reply to Letter to the Editor regarding 'The physical health and premature mortality of Indigenous Māori following first-episode psychosis diagnosis: A 15-year follow-up study'. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/00048674251315648
2024
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., Petrović-van der Deen, F., Gibb, S., Crowe, M., Manuel, J., Pitama, S., Crengle, S., Porter, R., & Lacey, C. (2024). Indigenous-non-Indigenous disparities in health and social outcomes 5 years after first episode psychosis: National cohort study. BJPsych Open, 11, e9. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2024.827
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/
Monk, N. J., Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Fitzjohn, J., Kerdemelidis, M., Lockett, H., McLachlan, A. D., Porter, R. J., … Lacey, C. (2024). Inequity in cardiometabolic hospital admissions and blood screening in New Zealand Indigenous Māori with psychosis. BJPsych Open, 10, e159. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2024.759
Monk, N. J., Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Crengle, S., Fitzjohn, J., Kerdemelidis, M., Lockett, H., McLachlan, A. D., Waitoki, W., & Lacey, C. (2024). The physical health and premature mortality of Indigenous Māori following first-episode psychosis diagnosis: A 15-year follow-up study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58(11), 963-976. doi: 10.1177/00048674241270981
Kuehl, S., Freeland, A., Stanley, J., & Cunningham, R. (2024). Almost one in five emergency department presentations are by mental health clients: A secondary data analysis. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1595), 13-38. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.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
Buchanan, M., Newton-Howes, G., Cunningham, R., McLeod, G. F. H., & Boden, J. M. (2024). The role of social support in reducing the long-term burden of cumulative childhood adversity on adulthood internalising disorder. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 59, 2165-2175. doi: 10.1007/s00127-024-02674-6
Manuel, J., Crengle, S., Crowe, M., Lacey, C., Cunningham, R., Clark, M. T. R., Petrović-van der Deen, F., Porter, R., & Pitama, S. (2024). Institutional pathways to psychosis for Indigenous Māori: A qualitative exploration of experiences. SSM Qualitative Research in Health, 5, 100435. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100435
Haitana, T., Clark, M. T. R., Crowe, M., Cunningham, R., Porter, R., Pitama, S., Mulder, R., & Lacey, C. (2024). The right to equal health: Best practice priorities for Māori with bipolar disorder from staff focus groups. Healthcare, 12, 793. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12070793
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
Clark, M. T. R., Manuel, J., Lacey, C., Pitama, S., Cunningham, R., & Jordan, J. (2024). ‘E koekoe te Tūī, e ketekete te Kākā, e kuku te Kererū, The Tūī chatters, the Kākā cackles, and the Kererū coos’: Insights into explanatory factors, treatment experiences and recovery for Māori with eating disorders: A qualitative study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58(4), 365-372. doi: 10.1177/00048674231207583
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Petrović-van der Deen, F., Kennedy, J., Stanley, J., Malihi, A., Gibb, S., & Cunningham, R. (2024). Health service utilization by quota, family-sponsored and convention refugees in their first five years in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 13th Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) Conference. 490. Retrieved from https://www.hsraanz.org/
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
King, P., Cunningham, R., & Davies, C. (2024, September). TIAKI: Community wellbeing for whānau with lived experience of prison. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Waitangi, New Zealand.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Public Health Advisory Committee, including Gurney, J., Cunningham, R., & Crampton, P. (2024). Rebalancing our food system. Commissioned by Minister of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health. 58p.
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
Manuel, J., Pitama, S., Clark, M. T. R., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., Cunningham, R., Gibb, S., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Porter, R. J., & Lacey, C. (2023). Racism, early psychosis, and institutional contact: A qualitative study of Indigenous experiences. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 69(8), 2121-2127. doi: 10.1177/00207640231195297
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
Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Kennedy, J. D., Stanley, J., Malihi, A., Gibb, S., & Cunningham, R. (2023). Health service utilisation by quota, family-sponsored and convention refugees in their first five years in New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 47(3). doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100064
Manuel, J., Pitama, S., Clark, M. T. R., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., Cunningham, R., Gibb, S., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Porter, R. J., & Lacey, C. (2023). Racism, early psychosis and institutional contact: A qualitative study of Indigenous experiences. International Review of Psychiatry, 35(3-4), 323-330. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2023.2188074
Clark, M. T. R., Manuel, J., Lacey, C., Pitama, S., Cunningham, R., & Jordan, J. (2023). Reimagining eating disorder spaces: A qualitative study exploring Māori experiences of accessing treatment for eating disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 22. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00748-5
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
Werkmeister, C., Cunningham, R., Freeland, A., Stanley, J., Every-Palmer, S., & Kuehl, S. (2023). Missed presentations, missed opportunities: A cross-sectional study of mental health presentation undercounting in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 35, 276-282. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14114
Manuel, J., Cunningham, R., Gibb, S., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Porter, R. J., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., Carr, G., & Lacey, C. (2023). Non-Indigenous privilege in health, justice and social services preceding first episode psychosis: A population-based cohort study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 57(6), 834-843. doi: 10.1177/00048674221119964
Carr, G., Cunningham, R., Petrović-van der Deen, F. S., Manuel, J., Gibb, S., Porter, R. J., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., & Lacey, C. (2023). Evolution of first episode psychosis diagnoses and health service use among young Māori and non-Māori: A New Zealand national cohort study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17(3), 290-298. doi: 10.1111/eip.13327
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Buchanan, M., Newton-Howes, G., Cunningham, R., McLeod, G. F. H., & Boden, J. M. (2023). The role of social support in reducing the long-term burden of cumulative childhood adversity on adulthood internalising disorder. Proceedings of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP) National Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzccp.co.nz
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Simmonds, S., Cunningham, R., Atatoa Carr, P., with Thorburn, D., & Chesterfield, B. (2023, September). The Te Ora/CMC Cultural Safety Plan for vocational medicine in Aotearoa and its adaption for use by the NCCPHM training programme [Guest speaker]. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting and Workshop, Wellington, New Zealand.
D'Souza, A., Blaiklock, A., King, P. T., Cunningham, R., & Crampton, P. (2023, September). Abuse in care: A public health crisis is no longer hidden. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting and Workshop, Wellington, New Zealand.
2022
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., King, P. T., Telfer, K., Crengle, S., Carr, J., Stanley, J., Gibb, S., & Robson, B. (2022). Mortality after release from incarceration in New Zealand by gender: A national record linkage study. SSM Population Health, 20, 101274. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101274
Cunningham, R., Milner, A., Gibb, S., Rijnberg, V., Disney, G., & Kavanagh, A. M. (2022). Gendered experiences of unemployment, suicide and self-harm: A population-level record linkage study. Psychological Medicine, 52, 4067-4075. doi: 10.1017/s0033291721000994
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
Every-Palmer, S., Cunningham, R., Jenkins, M., & Bell, E. (2021). The Christchurch mosque shooting, the media, and subsequent gun control reform in New Zealand: A descriptive analysis. Psychiatry, Psychology & Law, 28(2), 274-285. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2020.1770635
Journal - Research Other
Lockett, H., Koning, A., Lacey, C., Every-Palmer, S., Scott, K. M., Cunningham, R., Dowell, T., Smith, L., Masters, A., … Chambers, S. (2021). Addressing structural discrimination: Prioritizing people with mental health and addiction issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1538), 128-134. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Pilleron, S., Gower, H., Janssen-Heijnen, M., Signal, V. C., Gurney, J. K., Morris, E. J. A., Cunningham, R., & Sarfati, D. (2021). Patterns of age disparities in colon and lung cancer survival: A systematic narrative literature review. BMJ Open, 11, e044239. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044239
Other Research Output
Loring, B., Cunningham, R., Carr, P. A. (2021, October). COVID-19 in Aotearoa: what does public health do now? Public Health Expert blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/covid-19-in-aotearoa-what-does-public-health-do-now/
2020
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., Crowe, M., Stanley, J., Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Porter, R., Baxter, J., Huria, T., Mulder, R., Clark, M. T. R., & Lacey, C. (2020). Gender and mental health service use in bipolar disorder: National cohort study. BJPsych Open, 6(6), 138. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.117
Petrović-van der Deen, F., Cunningham, R., Manuel, J., Gibb, S., Porter, R. J., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Crengle, S., & Lacey, C. (2020). Exploring indigenous ethnic inequities in first episode psychosis in New Zealand: A national cohort study. Schizophrenia Research, 223, 311-318. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.09.004
Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Haitana, T., Pitama, S., Crowe, M., Mulder, R., Porter, R., & Lacey, C. (2020). The physical health of Māori with bipolar disorder. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54(11), 1107-1114. doi: 10.1177/0004867420954290
Lacey, C., Cunningham, R., Rijnberg, V., Manuel, J., Clark, M. T. R., Keelan, K., Pitama, S., Huria, T., Lawson, R., & Jordan, J. (2020). Eating disorders in New Zealand: Implications for Māori and health service delivery. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53, 1974-1982. doi: 10.1002/eat.23372
Richardson, A., Richard, L., Gunter, K., Cunningham, R., Hamer, H., Lockett, H., Wyeth, E., Stokes, T., … Cox, A., & Derrett, S. (2020). A systematic scoping review of interventions to integrate physical and mental healthcare for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 128, 52-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.05.021
Newton-Howes, G., Cunningham, R., & Atkinson, J. (2020). Personality disorder prevalence and correlates in a whole of nation dataset. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56(4), 679-685. doi: 10.1007/s00127-020-01876-y
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
Journal - Research Other
Shaw, C. V., D'Souza, A. J., Cunningham, R., & Sarfati, D. (2020). Revolutionized public health teaching to equip medical students for 21st century practice. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(2), 296-304. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.02.019
Lacey, C., Clark, M. T. R., Manuel, J., Pitama, S., Cunningham, R., Keelan, K., Rijnberg, V., Cleland, L., & Jordan, J. (2020). Is there systemic bias for Māori with eating disorders? A need for greater awareness in the healthcare system. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1514), 71-76. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Commissioned Report for External Body
Kvalsvig, A., Shaw, C., Telfar-Barnard, L., Mizdrak, A., Atatoa-Carr, P., McLeod, M., & Cunningham, R. (2020). Aotearoa/New Zealand’s COVID-19 elimination strategy: An overview. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Manatū Hauora: Ministry of Health. 18p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/aotearoa-new_zealands_covid-19_elimination_strategy-_an_overview17may.pdf
Cunningham, R., Shaw, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Mizdrak, A., Atatoa Carr, P., … McLeod, M., & Hume, C. (2020). COVID-19 in children. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Manatū Hauora: Ministry of Health. 10p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-and-other-commissioned-reports
Shaw, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar-Barnard, L., Mizdrak, A., Atatoa-Carr, P., McLeod, M., & Cunningham, R. (2020). Background and overview of approaches to COVID-19 pandemic control in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Manatū Hauora: Ministry of Health. 21p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-and-other-commissioned-reports
Cunningham, R., Shaw, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Mizdrak, A., Atatoa Carr, P., … McLeod, M., & Hume, C. (2020). Case and contact management: Monitoring and reporting to achieve and sustain elimination of COVID-19. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Manatū Hauora: Ministry of Health. 18p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-and-other-commissioned-reports
Cunningham, R., Shaw, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Mizdrak, A., Atatoa Carr, P., … McLeod, M., & Hume, C. (2020). Control measures to deliver COVID-19 strategies: Education sector evidence review. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Manatū Hauora: Ministry of Health. 16p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-and-other-commissioned-reports
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., & Poppe, K. (2019). Predicting cardiovascular risk among people with severe mental illness. Proceedings of the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA) Annual Scientific Meeting: Epidemiology in the Real World. (pp. 10). Retrieved from http://www.aea2019.com
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
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Cunningham, R. (2019, October). Integrated data and health disparities associated with mental health conditions. Verbal presentation at the Otago Spotlight Series: Mental Health Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Shearer, R., Tualamali’I, J., Young, W., Cunningham, R., Every-Palmer, S., Keelan, W., … Bonning, J. (2019, June). System reform: What are the government’s next steps. Panel discussion at the Mental Health in the Emergency Department Summit: New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
2018
Journal - Research Other
Sarfati, D., Garvey, G., Robson, B., Moore, S., Cunningham, R., Withrow, D., … Bray, F. (2018). Measuring cancer in Indigenous populations. Annals of Epidemiology, 28(5), 335-342. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.02.005
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Cunningham, R. (2018, July). Do current tools under-predict CVD in mental illness? Verbal presentation at the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) Conference for General Practice, Auckland, New Zealand.
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
Other Research Output
Cook, H. and co-signatories, including Aspinall, C., Baker, M., Ball, J., Brewer, N., Cleghorn, C., Cunningham, R., Donovan, S., D'Souza, A., Edwards, R., Fraser, B., Gage, R., Hoek, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Hurley, K., Kvalsvig, A., Kvizhinadze, G., Lawson-Te Aho, K., McIntyre, M. E., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pierse, N., Purdie, N., Rangiwhetu, L., Reidy, J., Russel, M., Sarfati, D., Shaw, C., Signal, L., Stanley, J., Thornley, L., Viggers, H., White, M., Wilson, N., and Zhang, W. (2018). Revision of the Abortion Law. Submission to New Zealand Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand. [Government Submission].
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
McLeod, M., King, P., Stanley, J., Lacey, C., & Cunningham, R. (2017). Ethnic disparities in the use of seclusion for adult psychiatric inpatients in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1454), 30-39. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Cunningham, R. (2017). Invulnerability bias explains inverse relationship between mental illness and cancer. Proceedings of the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA) 30th Anniversary Meeting. Retrieved from https://aea.asn.au
2016
Chapter in Book - Research
Fleming, S. T., Sarfati, D., Kimmick, G., Schoenberg, N., & Cunningham, R. (2016). Impact of comorbidity on cancer screening and diagnosis. In B. Koczwara (Ed.), Cancer and chronic conditions: Addressing the problem of multimorbidity in cancer patients and survivors. (pp. 105-129). Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-1844-2
Journal - Research Article
Woodhead, C., Cunningham, R., Ashworth, M., Barley, E., Stewart, R. J., & Henderson, M. J. (2016). Cervical and breast cancer screening uptake among women with serious mental illness: A data linkage study. BMC Cancer, 16, 819. doi: 10.1186/s12885-016-2842-8
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
Lockett, H., Cunningham, R., Bagnall, C., & Arcus, K. (2016). Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management in people who experience serious mental illness: An evidence review. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 25(Suppl. 1), (pp. S37). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2016.05.096
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Cunningham, R., Bagnall, C., Lockett, H., & Arcus, K. (2016, October). Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management in people who experience serious mental illness: An evidence review. Poster session presented at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists New Zealand Conference: Recover, Rebuild, Regenerate, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Cunningham, R., Bagnall, C., Lockett, H., & Arcus, K. (2016, October). Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management in people who experience serious mental illness: An evidence review. Verbal presentation at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists New Zealand Conference: Recover, Rebuild, Regenerate, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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.
Canty, J., & Cunningham, R. (2016, August). Social media and the postgrad student: Why would you bother? Workshop presentation at the Postgraduate Research Student Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.
Awarded Doctoral Degree
Cunningham, R. (2016). Cancer in the context of severe mental illness in New Zealand: An epidemiological study (PhD). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/6574
2015
Journal - Research Article
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
Signal, V., Sarfati, D., Cunningham, R., Gurney, J., Koea, J., & Ellison-Loschmann, L. (2015). Indigenous inequities in the presentation and management of stomach cancer in New Zealand: A country with universal health care coverage. Gastric Cancer, 18(3), 571-579. doi: 10.1007/s10120-014-0410-y
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lawrence, M., Broughton, J. R., Bagnall, C., Cunningham, R., & Lockett, H. (2015). Equally well: Taking a public health approach to improving physical health outcomes for people with experience of mental health and addiction problems. Proceedings of the Public Health Association Conference. (pp. 66-67). Retrieved from https://www.ivvy.com/event/PHA15/
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
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.
2013
Journal - Research Article
Chamberlain, J., Sarfati, D., Cunningham, R., Koea, J., Gurney, J., & Blakely, T. (2013). Incidence and management of hepatocellular carcinoma among Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(6), 520-526. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12108
Swart, E. M., Sarfati, D., Cunningham, R., Dennett, E., Signal, V., Gurney, J., & Stanley, J. (2013). Ethnicity and rectal cancer management in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1384). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
2011
Journal - Research Article
Blakely, T., Shaw, C., Atkinson, J., Cunningham, R., & Sarfati, D. (2011). Social inequalities or inequities in cancer incidence? Repeated census-cancer cohort studies, New Zealand 1981-1986 to 2001-2004. Cancer Causes & Control, 22(9), 1307-1318. doi: 10.1007/s10552-011-9804-x
2010
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., Shaw, C., Blakely, T., Atkinson, J., & Sarfati, D. (2010). Ethnic and socioeconomic trends in breast cancer incidence in New Zealand. BMC Cancer, 10, 674. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-674
Cunningham, R., Carter, K., Connor, J., & Fawcett, J. (2010). Does health status matter for the risk of injury? New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1327). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1327/4479/content.pdf
Hill, S., Sarfati, D., Blakely, T., Robson, B., Purdie, G., Chen, J., Dennett, E., Cormack, D., Cunningham, R., Dew, K., … Kawachi, I. (2010). Survival disparities in indigenous and non-indigenous New Zealanders with colon cancer: The role of patient comorbidity, treatment and health service factors. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 64(2), 117-123. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.083816
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Cunningham, R. (2010, September-October). Does health status matter for the risk of injury? Results from a longitudinal survey. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA) Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Blakely, T., Shaw, C., Atkinson, J., Tobias, M., Bastiampillai, N., Sloane, K., Sarfati, D., & Cunningham, R. (2010). Cancer trends: Trends in cancer incidence by ethnic and socioeconomic group, New Zealand 1981-2004. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago and Ministry of Health.
2009
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Hill, S., Dennett, E., & O'Donnell, A. (2009). Colon cancer management in New Zealand: 1996-2003. New Zealand Medical Journal, 122(1294). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1294/3581/content.pdf
2008
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., Sarfati, D., Hill, S., & Kenwright, D. (2008). An audit of colon cancer data on the New Zealand Cancer Registry. New Zealand Medical Journal, 121(1279). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1279/3191/content.pdf
Journal - Research Other
Shaw, C., Cunningham, R., & Sarfati, D. (2008). From screening criteria to colorectal cancer screening: What can New Zealand learn from other countries? [Viewpoint]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 121(1279). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1279/3186/content.pdf
Commissioned Report for External Body
Shaw, C., Cunningham, R., & Sarfati, D. (2008). Next steps towards a feasibility study for colorectal cancer screening in New Zealand. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Public Health. 102p. Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/cancer-programme/bowel-cancer-programme/bowel-screening-programme-expert-advice-and-more-information
2007
Journal - Research Article
Cunningham, R., MacDonald, J., McLean, M., & Shaw, C. (2007). An outbreak of infectious syphilis in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 120(1260). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/120-1260/2680/content.pdf