Yu Takizawa

Yu Takizawa is a lecturer in mental health at the College of Human Sciences and Culture at Flinders University.

His research evolves around Social-emotional learning (SEL), child mental health & wellbeing, Digital mental health, online education for mental health and educational professionals, and neuroscience-informed mental health interventions.

Yu is an emerging leader in digital SEL.

He is a team member involved in the development and research of Big Talks for Little People program (https://bigtalkslittlepeople.com/), a digitally integrated SEL program, for school-aged children in Australia.

He has been a board member of Japanese Social-Emotional Learning Association (https://j-sel.org/) and involved in the training of school teachers and mental health professionals for the delivery and implementation of SEL programs for Japanese young people.

In 2025, his paper was cited in OECD Policy Paper, “Bridging Gaps in Social and Emotional Skills: The essential contribution of school psychologists” (https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/bridging-gaps-in-social-and-smotional-skills_8960542c-en.html), reflecting his growing international standing in evidence-based approaches to SEL for promoting child mental health and wellbeing.

He serves as an Editorial Board Member of Digital Health by Sage Publications (https://journals.sagepub.com/home/DHJ), reflecting his recognised contribution to the field of digital mental health & digital SEL for children.