Qualifications
PhD Behavioural Science in Relation to Medicine University of Newcastle
MPhil Clinical Psychology University of Ghana
Diploma in Human Resource Development Institute of Commercial Management, UK
BSc Psychology First Class Honours, University of Cape Coast
Overview
Dr Prince Atorkey is a Lecturer in Psychological Sciences at ACAP University College and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Newcastle. His research focuses on mental health, health behaviours, lifestyle medicine, digital health interventions, and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. He teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programs and supervises student research. Dr Atorkey is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Senior Collaborator with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. His work has been published in leading international journals, including The Lancet, Nature Medicine, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research. His research aims to develop scalable, culturally responsive approaches that improve mental health and health outcomes globally.
Professional registrations or accreditation
- Registered Clinical Psychologist – Ghana Psychology Council
- Registered Provisional Psychologist – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Professional Affiliations and Fellowships
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy (Advance HE)
- Member, Australasian Society of Behavioural Health and Medicine (ASBHM)
- Member, Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM)
Professional Roles and Affiliations
- Adjunct Lecturer, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle
- Senior Collaborator, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington
- Researcher, Hunter Medical Research Institute
Awards or recognition
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Advance HE (2024)
- Student Leadership in Lifestyle Medicine Award, Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (2022)
- Best HDR Publication Award (1st Runner-Up), University of Newcastle (2020)
- Best Paper Award, Centre for African Research, Engagement and Partnership & African Postgraduate Students Association, University of Newcastle (2020)
- Best Poster Presentation in Implementation Science and Impact, Hunter Cancer Research Alliance (2019)
Research and Supervision Areas
- Mental health and psychological wellbeing
- Health behaviours and lifestyle medicine
- Digital health and technology-assisted interventions
- Global and cross-cultural mental health, particularly in African and migrant populations
Google Scholar Link
Google Scholar: ‪Prince Atorkey, PhD‬ – ‪Google Scholar‬‬‬‬‬
Teaching Areas
- PSYC3122/5332: Abnormal Psychology and Intervention (Advanced)
- PSYC3132/5342: Social and Community Psychology
- PSYC1042/5162: History, Science and Application 1
- PSYC 5612: Professional Psychology: Applied Research 2
Research (selected publications)
- Maunder, R. D., Atorkey, P., Chapman, A., du Plooy, D. R., Jayant, N., & Sipes, J. (2026). Key components of effective contact interventions for reducing public mental health stigma: An updated meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review, 126, 102741.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2026.102741 - GBD 2023 Mental Disorder Collaborators (2026). Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Lancet (London, England), 407(10543), 2040–2064.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00519-2 - Aregbeshola, B. S., Paul, C., Atorkey, P., Dizon, J., Leigh, L., & Tzelepis, F. (2025). Factors associated with tobacco use, risky alcohol consumption, and concurrent tobacco and risky alcohol use among vocational education students. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 51(6), 838–848.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2025.2547714 - Akombi-Inyang, B. J., Byaruhanga, J., Boamah, S. A., Allotey, J., & Atorkey, P. (2024). Factors Associated with Psychological Distress during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study of Sub-Saharan African Migrant Workers across Australia and Canada. International journal of environmental research and public health, 21(9), 1127.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091127 - Asante, K. O., & Atorkey, P. (2023). Cannabis and amphetamine use among school-going adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country analysis of prevalence and associated factors. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 778.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05283-w
Current Projects
- Health risk behaviours and mental health among diverse populations
- Digital and technology-assisted approaches to health behaviour change
- Mental health and wellbeing among culturally diverse and migrant populations
- Global burden of disease and population health research through the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) collaboration