Rate My Professor Carina Perner

Carina Perner serves as the Occupational Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisor at the University of Otago, playing a vital role in the Staff Support Team within the Healthy Campus initiative. In this capacity, she addresses psychological health issues for university staff, offering confidential support, guidance, and referrals to appropriate resources. Staff members facing mental health concerns can contact her directly by email at carina.perner@otago.ac.nz or mobile phone at +64 21 920 696 to book appointments or seek advice on wellbeing matters. Her work integrates with broader university services, such as the Employee Assistance Programme provided by TELUS Health, which delivers professional counselling sessions accessible to all staff. Perner is positioned within the Health, Safety and Wellbeing framework, contributing to proactive measures against mental health hazards across the institution. She is listed as a key contact in official university resources on mental health and wellbeing, ensuring staff have streamlined access to specialized support.

Perner actively engages the university community through educational seminars and public events focused on mental health, family dynamics, and child development. She presented at the Department of Medicine Seminar Series, where she was introduced as the Occupational Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisor and an Accredited Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa Instructor. Additionally, she is the designated contact for numerous university-hosted events, including 'Empowering children: Developing healthy self-esteem,' 'Personal Best Parenting: What good parenting is about,' 'Teenagers: Understanding the teen brain. Making sense of their emotions and behaviours,' 'Helping children manage their emotions toddler to teen,' and 'Managing kids' screen time: Strategies for safe technology use.' These sessions provide practical insights for parents, caregivers, and staff on fostering emotional resilience and healthy behaviours. During the COVID-19 period, Perner highlighted the need for mental health support even among those without prior experiences, reinforcing the university's commitment to staff resilience. She is recommended in departmental communications, such as from the Department of Psychology, as a primary support resource. Furthermore, Perner participates in the Sensitive Case Management team, aiding in complex occupational health scenarios. Recognized as a Registered Occupational Therapist (NZROT) in university documentation, her expertise underpins her advisory contributions in the Health Sciences context at Otago.