Rate My Professor Jenni Manuel

Dr Jenni Manuel is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Division. She holds a PhD, a Master of Health Sciences awarded in 2012 for her thesis on 'Clinical Responsibility: The Mental Health Nursing Perspective', and is a registered nurse (RN). In her role, she manages postgraduate teaching responsibilities and provides active supervision to Masters' and PhD students. Manuel has expertise in a variety of research methods, with particular proficiency in qualitative research. She is a trained Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) therapist involved in clinical trials for mood disorders and serves as the principal investigator for a study evaluating access, service delivery, and patient experiences in a peer-led acute alternative mental health service. Her research interests focus on early psychosis, Māori mental health inequities, improving service delivery for people experiencing severe mental illness, psychotherapeutic interventions, and mental health nursing.

Jenni Manuel has produced a substantial body of peer-reviewed publications and conference contributions that influence mental health practice and policy, particularly regarding Indigenous health disparities and innovative treatments. Key publications include 'Clinical responsibility, accountability, and risk aversion in mental health nursing: a descriptive, qualitative study' (Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 2014, co-authored with Marie Crowe); 'Comparison of patients' and staff's perspectives on the causes of violence in psychiatric inpatient units' (Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 2021); 'Racism, early psychosis, and institutional contact: A qualitative study of Indigenous experiences' (2023); 'Experiences of psilocybin treatment for clinical conditions: A qualitative meta-synthesis' (International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2023, with Marie Crowe, Dave Carlyle, and Cameron Lacey); 'Evaluating Access, Service Delivery, and Experiences of a Peer-Led Acute Alternative Mental Health Service' (International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2025); 'Reappraisal of the hype and hope offered by psilocybin treatment of depression' (New Zealand Medical Journal, 2025, with Ben Beaglehole); and 'Addressing exclusionary epidemiology in psychosis population prevalence studies' (Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2025). She has presented at conferences, including an invited talk on 'Te Uemairangi: Early psychosis and institutional contact: A qualitative study of Indigenous Māori experiences' at the New Zealand Early Intervention Psychosis Society Conference (2025) and on ketamine research at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Conference (2025).