Description:

Why is the role of food and nutrients so often underappreciated or overlooked in mental health care when it has the potential to transform lives? Professor Julia Rucklidge has challenged this question through her pioneering research and advocacy on nutrition and mental health across developmental, behavioural and psychiatric fields. We explore the evolution of her work, its implications, and the challenges of integrating nutrition into mainstream mental health care. She also shares the remarkable findings of the NUTRIMUM Trial, examining the impact of nutrition during pregnancy on maternal mental health and child development.

Guest:

Professor Julia Rucklidge

About our guest:

Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she is internationally renowned for her research and clinical trials on nutrients and mental illnesses, having given hundreds of talks around the world. Professor Rucklidge has become well-known for her ability to succinctly communicate the latest research relating to nutrition and mental health. She has over 160 peer reviewed publications, including in the Lancet Psychiatry, JAMA, JAACAP, and the British Journal of Psychiatry, with over 10,000 citations. She is currently on the Executive Committee for the International Society of Nutritional Psychiatry Research. Notable achievements include co-authoring “The Better Brain,” a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, a free online course through EdX on Mental Health and Nutrition that has been taken by over 85,000 students, and receiving awards like University of Canterbury Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the NZ Psychological Society for her contributions to clinical psychology, Fellow of Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, a Braveheart Award for making Christchurch a better place to live, and being named three times as one of New Zealand’s top 100 influential women. Julia is passionate about advocating that a good nutritional foundation is essential for helping people prevent and recover from mental health challenges.

Guest website and links: 

profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Julia-Rucklidge

thebetterbrainbook.com

edx.org/learn/nutrition/university-of-canterbury-mental-health-and-nutrition

Selection of our guest’s publications: 

Mitchell M, Bradley H, Blampied NM, Mulder RT, Rucklidge JJ. Protective effect of micronutrients used to treat antenatal depression on rates of postnatal depression at six months: A secondary analysis of NUTRIMUM. J Affect Disord. 2025 Nov 1;388:119560. 

Rucklidge JJ, Bradley HA, Campbell SA, Heaton JL, Moltchanova E, Dixon L, Simcock B, Mulder RT. From womb to world-is it time to revisit our current guidelines for treatment of antenatal depression? Supporting the next generation to have the best start to life. N Z Med J. 2025 Aug 29;138(1621):90-98. 

Rucklidge JJ, Bruton A, Welsh A, Ast H, Johnstone JM. Annual Research Review: Micronutrients and their role in the treatment of paediatric mental illness. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025 Apr;66(4):477-497.

Stevens AJ, Heiwari TM, Rich FJ, Bradley HA, Gur TL, Galley JD, Kennedy MA, Dixon LA, Mulder RT, Rucklidge JJ. Randomised control trial indicates micronutrient supplementation may support a more robust maternal microbiome for women with antenatal depression during pregnancy. Clin Nutr. 2024 Nov;43(11):120-132. 

Bradley HA, Moltchanova E, Mulder RT, Dixon L, Henderson J, Rucklidge JJ. Efficacy and safety of a mineral and vitamin treatment on symptoms of antenatal depression: 12-week fully blinded randomised placebo-controlled trial (NUTRIMUM). BJPsych Open. 2024 Jun 3;10(4):e119.