For many people, antidepressants play an important role in managing depression and supporting recovery.

Yet for some, stopping these medications can be challenging. Withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from a return of depression, creating uncertainty for consumers, families and clinicians alike. Despite the growing number of people affected by antidepressant discontinuation, there is still much we do not understand about what is happening in the brain during this process.

Dr Alec Jamieson is working to change that.

A postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, Alec's research focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms that underpin mood and anxiety disorders, with the goal of improving how treatments are delivered and ensuring people receive the care that is right for them. His work combines cutting-edge neuroimaging with a strong commitment to research translation, helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world mental health care.

As the recipient of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and University of Melbourne Mental Health Research Partnership Grant, Alec will explore one of the most pressing and under-researched questions in mental health treatment: what happens in the brain when people stop taking antidepressants?

"One of the big problems with stopping antidepressants is that withdrawal symptoms can often look very similar to symptom relapse," Alec explains. "Because we don't really understand why these processes occur at the level of the brain, we don't understand which people are at risk for one or both of these issues."

His project will use ultra-high-field brain imaging alongside meaningful engagement with people who have direct experience of antidepressant withdrawal. Through a series of workshops, people with Lived and Living Experience will help identify the symptoms, challenges and questions that matter most, ensuring the research remains grounded in real-world experiences and priorities.

For Alec, this partnership is essential.

"When we don't listen to those with lived experience, important factors go overlooked," he says. "That means our research becomes less impactful, less translatable, and less likely to address the issues that matter most to the people it is intended to benefit."

The project reflects a growing recognition that meaningful mental health research must bring together scientific evidence and Lived and Living Experience from the outset. By doing so, Alec hopes to develop a clearer understanding of the biological processes involved in antidepressant withdrawal and relapse, while creating a stronger foundation for future research and clinical decision-making.

Ultimately, the goal is to support more informed, evidence-based approaches to antidepressant discontinuation.

"I hope this work represents a key step toward reducing the trial-and-error nature of clinical decisions around antidepressant discontinuation," Alec says. "In particular, I hope it helps identify who may require ongoing treatment and who may be able to safely discontinue antidepressant medication, allowing consumers and clinicians alike to make more informed decisions."

By bringing together Lived and Living Experience, neuroscience and clinical expertise, this project aims to improve our understanding of a complex issue that affects many people and, ultimately, contribute to safer and more person-centred mental health care.