Helen is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Orygen and the Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in Melbourne. She is a psychiatrist and public health physician with national and international experience in mental health research and its translation, and service provision. She is appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and included in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Helen was elected President of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) 2017-2020 and has received an honorary degree of Doctor of Medical Science from The University of Melbourne.