Amanda took up the role of Head of Education in August 2021. Her role is to ensure the flourishing of the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Christian Education programmes at Laidlaw. 

Her qualifications are in psychology, primary school teaching, early childhood education, counselling, play therapy and adult education. Professionally, Amanda has worked in early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary and health settings. Amanda’s PhD studies focused on examining how qualified moderators of online community health forums support individuals in suicidal crisis.

Amanda lives in Waimauku with her family. Beyond her role at Laidlaw, Amanda has a small private counselling practice in Waimauku.

Publications

2024 

Perry, A., Christensen, S., Lamont-Mills, A., & du Plessis, C. (2024). Keeping users experiencing a suicidal crisis safe online: Current text-based practices of professional online mental health forum moderators. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 18(5), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2024-5-7

2022

Perry, A., Lamont-Mills, A., duPreez, J., & du Plessis, C. ‘I want to be stepping in more’–Professional Online Forum Moderators’ Experiences of Supporting Individuals in a Suicide Crisis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863509

2021

Perry, A., Pyle, D., Lamont-Mills, A., du Plessis, C. & du Preez, J. (2021). Suicidal behaviours and moderator support in online health communities: a scoping review. BMJ Open;11:e047905. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047905

Pyle, D., Perry, A., Lamont-Mills, A., Tehan, G. & Chambers, S.K. (2021), A scoping review of the characteristics and benefits of online prostate cancer communities. Psycho-Oncology, 30, 659-668. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5618

2020

Perry, A., Lamont-Mills, A., du Plessis, C., du Preez, J. & Pyle, D. (2021). Suicidal behaviours and moderator support in online health communities: protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open 10:e034162. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034162