Dr Olivia Harrison: Neuroscientist specialising in anxiety research

“My wonderful parents, and particularly my mother, have always said – do what you love and the money will follow. And I think I’ve always just taken that to heart, in that work is so much of your life so you need to love it and it needs to make you happy.”Dr Olivia Harrison is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on mental health, especially anxiety. She looks at the relationship between our brain and our body, and how awareness of changes in our body - things like a racing heart, sweaty palms or rapid breathing – may impact on our anxiety. Olivia studied originally at the University of Otago before completing her PhD at the University of Oxford in the UK. She’s worked as a Research Fellow in Oxford and Zurich before returning home to NZ in 2020 and has been awarded the Rutherford Discovery Research Fellowship. Olivia has also recently been awarded the prestigious LÓreal/UNESCO Fellowship for Women in Science.Here are some mental health support services in Aotearoa New Zealand in case useful after listening to this episode:Call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellorLifeline – 0800 543 354 or free text 4357 (HELP)Anxiety Help Line – 0800 269 4389Mental Health Foundation