Monika Ferguson

Dr Monika Ferguson

Senior Lecturer, Mental Health

School of Nursing and Midwifery

College of Health

I am a suicide prevention and mental health researcher and lecturer. My expertise includes mixed-methods evaluations of suicide prevention initiatives, in the health sector and in the community. I am currently undertaking a Research Fellowship funded by Suicide Prevention Australia to evaluate the impact of the safety planning intervention for people experiencing suicide-related distress. I also deliver suicide prevention training to health and human service professionals. 

Year Citation
2025 McDonough, J., Loughhead, M., Rhodes, K., Ferguson, M., & Procter, N. (2025). ‘Am I Safe Here? Am I Going to Be Let Down?’ Disentangling Tensions in the Pursuit of Person-Centred and Consumer Directed Care in the Australian Mental Healthcare Context. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34(6), e70177.
DOI Europe PMC1
2025 Ferguson, M., Loughhead, M., Mcintyre, H., & Procter, N. (2025). Trauma-informed approaches to suicide prevention: a scoping review. Crisis-The Journal Of Crisis Intervention And Suicide Prevention, online, 1-12.
DOI
2024 Ferguson, M., McIntyre, H., Rhodes, K., & Procter, N. G. (2024). Co-creating safety plans with people experiencing suicide-related distress. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 28(6), 52.
2024 O'Connor, E., Rhodes, K., Procter, N., Loughhead, M., Procter, A., Reilly, J. A., . . . Ferguson, M. (2024). The experiences of consumers, clinicians and support persons involved in the safety planning intervention for suicide prevention: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15(1482924), 1-20.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC2
2023 Procter, N., Othman, S., Jayasekara, R., Procter, A., McIntyre, H., & Ferguson, M. (2023). The impact of trauma-informed suicide prevention approaches: a systematic review of evidence across the lifespan. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(1), 3-13.
DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC6
2022 Ferguson, M., Posselt, M., McIntyre, H., Loughhead, M., Kenny, M. A., Mau, V., & Procter, N. G. (2022). Staff perspectives of safety planning as a suicide prevention intervention for people of refugee and asylum-seeker background: a qualitative investigation. Crisis, 43(4), 331-338.
DOI Scopus13 WoS10 Europe PMC8
2022 Procter, N., Posselt, M., Ferguson, M., McIntyre, H., Kenny, M. A., Curtis, R., . . . Mau, V. (2022). An evaluation of suicide prevention education for people working with refugees and asylum seekers: improvements in competence, attitudes, and confidence. Crisis, 43(3), 205-213.
DOI Scopus10 WoS4 Europe PMC8
2021 Posselt, M., Loughhead, M., Ferguson, M., McIntyre, H., Kenny, M. A., & Procter, N. G. (2021). Suicide prevention gatekeeper training for those supporting refugees and asylum seekers: perspectives of participants. Advances in Mental Health, 19(3), 260-271.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2021 Ferguson, M., Rhodes, K., Loughhead, M., McIntyre, H., & Procter, N. G. (2021). The effectiveness of the safety planning intervention for adults experiencing suicide-related distress: a systematic review. Archives of Suicide Research, 26(3), 1022-1045.
DOI Scopus100 WoS96 Europe PMC74
2020 Ferguson, M., McIntyre, H., Martinez, L., Eygenraam, J., Baker, A., & Procter, N. (2020). Development of an evidence-based evaluation toolkit for suicide prevention networks in regional Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 28(2), 224-228.
DOI
2020 Ferguson, M., Reis, J., Rabbetts, L., McCracken, T., Loughhead, M., Rhodes, K., . . . Procter, N. G. (2020). The impact of suicide prevention education programmes for nursing students: a systematic review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(5), 756-771.
DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC10
2019 Posselt, M., Eaton, H., Ferguson, M., Keegan, D., & Procter, N. (2019). Enablers of psychological well-being for refugees and asylum seekers living in transitional countries: A systematic review. Health and social care in the community, 27(4), 808-823.
DOI Scopus70 WoS63 Europe PMC35
2019 Kassir, H., Eaton, H., Ferguson, M., & Procter, N. G. (2019). Role of the pharmacist in suicide prevention: primely positioned to intervene. Journal of pharmacy practice and research, 49(6), 567-569.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7
2019 Ferguson, M., Dollman, J., Jones, M., Cronin, K., James, L., Martinez, L., & Procter, N. (2019). Suicide prevention training - improving the attitudes and confidence of rural Australian health and human service professionals. Crisis, 40(1), 15-26.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC7
2018 Ferguson, M., Reis, J. A., Rabbetts, L., Ashby, H. J., Bayes, M., McCracken, T., . . . Procter, N. G. (2018). The effectiveness of suicide prevention education programs for nurses: a systematic review. Crisis, 39(2), 96-109.
DOI WoS22 Europe PMC17
2018 Jones, M., Ferguson, M., Walsh, S., Martinez, L., Marsh, M., Cronin, K., & Procter, N. (2018). Perspectives of rural health and human service practitioners following suicide prevention training programme in Australia: a thematic analysis. Health & social care in the community, 26(3), 356-363.
DOI Scopus20 WoS18 Europe PMC10
2016 Maher, C. A., Toohey, M., & Ferguson, M. (2016). Physical activity predicts quality of life and happiness in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Disability and rehabilitation, 38(9), 865-869.
DOI Scopus88 WoS74 Europe PMC61
2016 Baker, A. E. Z., Procter, N. G., & Ferguson, M. S. (2016). Engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to reduce the impact of depression and anxiety: a narrative review. Health and social care in the community, 24(4), 386-398.
DOI Scopus24 WoS19 Europe PMC13
2016 Pearson, E., Tindle, H., Ferguson, M., Ryan, J., & Litchfield, C. (2016). Can we tweet, post, and share our way to a more sustainable society? A review of the current contributions and future potential #socialmediaforsustainability. Annual review of environment and resources, 41(1), 363-397.
DOI Scopus48
2016 Ferguson, M., Baker, A., Young, S., & Procter, N. (2016). Understanding suicide among Aboriginal communities. Australian nursing and midwifery journal, 23(8), 36.
Scopus1
2015 Ferguson, M., Jones, M., Procter, N., Martinez, L., Cronin, K., James, L., . . . Ryan, B. (2015). Preparing nurses to practice evidence based suicide prevention skills in the bush. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 23(4), 41.
2015 Procter, N., & Ferguson, M. (2015). Responding to youth suicide: a film for nurses and health workers. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 22(8), 41.
2015 Procter, N., & Ferguson, M. (2015). Face to face and person to person: rural clinicians' views on engaging with mental health consumers. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 23(4), 34.
2015 Procter, N., & Ferguson, M. (2015). Are there warning signs for suicide?. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 23(5), 31.
Scopus2 Europe PMC1
2015 Maher, C., Ferguson, M., Vandelanotte, C., Plotnikoff, R., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Thomas, S., . . . Olds, T. (2015). A web-based, social networking physical activity intervention for insufficiently active adults delivered via Facebook app: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(7), e174-1-e174-14.
DOI Scopus128 WoS115 Europe PMC92
2015 Procter, N., Backhouse, J., Cother, I., Ferguson, M., Fielder, A., Jackson, A., . . . Reilly, J. A. (2015). Engaging consumers in the Australian emergency mental health context : a qualitative perspective from clinicians working in the community. Health and social care in the community, 23(4), 428-436.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2015 Procter, N., Ferguson, M., Backhouse, J., Cother, I., Jackson, A., Murison, J., & Reilly, J. A. (2015). Face to face, person to person: skills and attributes deployed by rural mental health clinicians when engaging with consumers. Australian journal of rural health, 23(6), 352-358.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8 Europe PMC7
2014 Procter, N., & Ferguson, M. (2014). Collaborative action to improve rural mental health. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 22(6), 35.
2013 Szokalski, M. S., Foster, W. K., & Litchfield, C. A. (2013). Behavioral monitoring of big cats involved in 'behind-the-scenes' zoo visitor tours. International journal of comparative psychology, 26(1), 83-104.
2012 Szokalski, M. S., Litchfield, C. A., & Foster, W. K. (2012). What can zookeepers tell us about interacting with big cats in captivity?. Zoo biology, 32(2), 142-151.
DOI Scopus18 WoS16 Europe PMC11
2012 Szokalski, M. S., Litchfield, C. A., & Foster, W. K. (2012). Enrichment for captive tigers (Panthera tigris): current knowledge and future directions. Applied animal behaviour science, 139(1-2), 1-9.
DOI Scopus53 WoS52

Year Citation
2022 Procter, N., Macedo, D., & Ferguson, M. (2022). Person-centred care in suicide and self-harm distress. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental Health: A Person-centred Approach (3rd ed. ed., pp. 127-143). UK: Cambridge University Press.
2022 Procter, N., Baker, K., Ferguson, M., Hodge, L., Macedo, D., & Loughhead, M. (2022). Mental illness and narratives of experience. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental Health: A Person-centred Approach (3rd ed. ed., pp. 83-100). UK: Cambridge University Press.
2022 Procter, N., Baker, A., Kenny, M. A., Macedo, D., & Ferguson, M. S. (2022). Mental health of people of immigrant and refugee backgrounds. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental health: a person-centred approach (pp. 315-338). UK: Cambridge University Press.
2022 Procter, N., Baker, A., Baker, K., Hodge, L., Macedo, D., & Ferguson, M. (2022). Introduction to mental health and mental illness: human connectedness and the collaborative consumer narrative. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental Health: A Person-centred Approach (3rd ed. ed., pp. 1-25). UK: Cambridge University Press.
2019 Procter, N., & Ferguson, M. (2019). Mental health emergencies. In K. Curtis (Ed.), Source details - Title: Emergency and trauma care for nurses and paramedics (3 ed.). US: Elsevier Press.
2019 Ferguson, M., Baker, A., & Procter, N. (2019). A culturally competent approach to suicide research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In Source details - Title: Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences (pp. 1707-1722). Singapore: Springer.
DOI
2018 Ferguson, M., & Litchfield, C. (2018). Interactive zoo visitor experiences: A review of human and animal perspectives.. In N. Carr, & J. Young (Eds.), Source details - Title: Wild animals and leisure: Rights and welfare (pp. 39-59). US: Routledge.
2018 Ferguson, M., & Litchfield, C. (2018). Human-wildlife leisure experiences: the good, the bad, the ugly. In N. Carr, & J. Young (Eds.), Source details - Title: Wild animals and leisure: Rights and welfare (pp. 12-38). US: Routledge.
2017 Procter, N., & Ferguson, M. (2017). Mental health. In J. Bloomfield (Ed.), Source details - Title: Clinical nursing skills an Australian perspective (pp. 309-330). Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
2017 Procter, N., Ferguson, M., Baker, A., & Babakarkhil, A. (2017). Services and supports for refugees and asylum seekers. In M. Chambers (Ed.), Source details - Title: Psychiatric and mental health nursing: the craft of caring (3rd ed. ed., pp. 735-745). UK: Taylor and Francis.
DOI Scopus1
2017 Procter, N., Baker, A., Baker, K., Hodge, L., & Ferguson, M. (2017). Introduction to mental health and mental illness: human connectedness and the collaborative consumer narrative. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental health: a person-centred approach (2 ed., pp. 1-28). UK: Cambridge University Press.
DOI Scopus1
2017 Procter, N., Baker, A., Kenny, M. A., & Ferguson, M. (2017). Mental health of people of immigrant and refugee background. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental health: A person-centred approach (2 ed., pp. 238-259). UK: Cambridge University Press.
DOI Scopus4
2016 Ferguson, M., Traynor, A. O., & Procter, N. (2016). Mental health during childhood. In M. Steen, & M. Thomas (Eds.), Source details - Title: Mental health across the lifespan: a handbook (pp. 88-112). UK: Routledge.
DOI
2016 Procter, N., Baker, A., Ferguson, M., & Baker, K. (2016). Mental health within society and societies. In M. Steen, & M. Thomas (Eds.), Source details - Title: Mental health across the lifespan: a handbook (pp. 21-45). UK: Routledge.
DOI
2015 Procter, N. G., & Ferguson, M. (2015). Mental health emergencies. In K. Curtis, & C. Ramsden (Eds.), Source details - Title: Emergency and trauma care for nurses and paramedics (2 ed., pp. 953-975). New York: Elsevier Press.
2014 Procter, N., Babakarkhil, A., Baker, A. E. Z., & Ferguson, M. S. (2014). Mental health of people of immigrant and refugee backgrounds. In H. P. Hamer (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental health: a person-centred approach (pp. 197-216). UK: Cambridge University Press.
DOI Scopus4
2013 Procter, N., Baker, A., Grocke, K., & Ferguson, M. (2013). Introduction to mental health and mental illness: human connectedness and the collaborative consumer narrative. In N. Procter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Mental health: a person-centred approach (pp. 1-24). Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
DOI Scopus3

Year Citation
2016 Procter, N., Jones, M., & Ferguson, M. (2016). A multi-disciplinary suicide prevention training program in rural South Australia. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING Vol. 25 (pp. 45). WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016 Ferguson, M., & Procter, N. (2016). The effectiveness of educating nurses in suicide prevention: A systematic review. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING Vol. 25 (pp. 18). WILEY-BLACKWELL.
WoS1
2015 Baker, A., & Ferguson, M. (2015). Dying before their time: Indigenous youth suicide in Australia. In Conference Proceedings of the G20 Youth Forum 2015 (pp. 195-202). Switzerland: G200 Association.

Year Citation
2024 Procter, N., Ferguson, M., Loughhead, M., & McIntyre, H. (2024). Trauma-informed approaches to suicide prevention: consultation paper: Corporate body:Queensland Mental Health Commission. Australia: Queensland Mental Health Commission.
2023 Loughhead, M., McDonough, J., Baker, K., Rhodes, K., Manzini Macedo, D., Ferguson, M., . . . Procter, N. (2023). Person-centred and consumer directed mental health care: transforming care experiences. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2020 Baker, K., Ferguson, M., Loughhead, M., & Procter, N. G. (2020). Mental health safety and quality engagement guide: Corporate body:National Mental Health Commission. Australia: National Mental Health Commission.
2019 Procter, N. G., Ferguson, M., & McIntyre, H. (2019). Rapid review of evidence to advance a mental health nursing workforce strategy. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2017 Ferguson, M., Eaton, H., & Procter, N. G. (2017). The impact of MATES in construction: a mixed-methods study of GAT and connector training in the South Australian construction industry. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2017 Ferguson, M., Eaton, H., Baker, A., & Procter, N. (2017). Evaluation toolkit for South Australian Suicide Prevention Networks. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2017 Procter, N. G., Ayling, B., Croft, L., DeGaris, P., Devine, M., Dimanic, A., . . . Sullivan, R. (2017). Trauma-informed approaches in forensic mental health. South Australia: University of South Australia.

  • Preventive Health SA Scholarship, Preventive Health SA, 11/09/2025 - 30/06/2029

  • SA Health Scholarship, SA Health, 01/03/2019 - 31/12/2025

  • SA Community Suicide Postvention Rapid Review and Environmental Scan, Preventive Health SA, 15/05/2024 - 05/08/2024

  • National Mental Health Commission 'Spotlight' Report on Person Centred and Person Led Care Concepts Used in Mental Health, National Mental Health Commission, 01/07/2021 - 31/07/2022

  • Evaluation of Connecting with People training for South Australian Health Professionals, 4 Mental Health Ltd, 01/02/2018 - 31/07/2021

  • Open Minds Alliance CIC Scholarship, Open Minds Alliance CIC, 01/01/2017 - 30/05/2020

  • Help-seeking of emergency service first responders for mental health concerns, The Road Home (formerly the Repat Foundation), 01/07/2017 - 30/06/2019

  • Independent review on literature on evidence to advance a mental health workforce strategy and development of a protocol to evaluate state-wide mental health nursing workforce strategy, SA Health, 01/04/2019 - 07/06/2019

  • Systematic Literature Review: What are the barriers and enablers of psychological well-being in refugees and asylum seekers/displaced people?, HOST International, 04/01/2018 - 31/07/2018

  • Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Services Training, Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Services, 27/02/2018 - 30/04/2018

  • Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors Engagement of Professor Nicholas Procter for 2 day training course, Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors, 16/02/2018 - 30/03/2018

  • Design of a Research Methodology for Suicide Prevention Research, SA Health, 01/07/2016 - 30/06/2017

  • Developing a research protocol for evaluation of a suicide prevention network, Local Government Association of South Australia, 10/10/2016 - 31/03/2017

  • Unexpected but Important: A mixed methods inquiry into the positive workplace effects of suicide prevention education and training, Mates in Construction, 11/03/2016 - 31/01/2017

Courses I teach

  • NURS 2041 Mental Health Nursing (2025)

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