Philip Hazell is a Clinical Professor with the School of Medicine, Charles Darwin University and an Honorary Professor with the Sydney Medical School. He was formerly Director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for the Sydney Local Health District and Director of the Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Service. Currently Philip is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with Top End Mental Health Services based at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Philip completed his undergraduate medical training with University of Otago in 1980 and trained in general psychiatry and child psychiatry in Adelaide, South Australia from 1983 to 1989. From 1989 to 1998 Philip was Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry with the University of Newcastle, and then until 2006 he was Clinical Director of the Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Hunter New England Mental Health Service.

Most of Philip's 168 peer reviewed publications and all his published Cochrane reviews and book chapters are of direct relevance to the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. His early work on the impact of adolescent suicide and attempted suicide on peers has been influential nationally on the way schools respond to the suicide death of a student. The work remains relevant, as it was cited in the 2014 National Children’s Commissioner’s Report. Philip’s more recent work on self harm and its management has informed the development of RANZCP Clinical Practice Guidelines. His frequently cited review (200+) of the efficacy of tricylic drugs for depression in children and adolescents accelerated the discontinuation of prescribing these drugs. The evidence has been incorporated into most clinical practice guidelines in the field. Philip continues to co-author a chapter for BMJ Best Practice on the treatments for depression in children and adolescents, drawing on the knowledge and skills derived from undertaking the tricyclic review. With respect to ADHD Philip has published several studies which examine the gaps between desired and actual service delivery. His award winning study of clonidine augmentation of stimulants to manage aggressivity in hyperactive children and adolescents has been incorporated in clinical practice guidelines. His longitudinal study of children and adolescents with ADHD who experienced manic episodes challenged a view that this was a precursor to bipolar disorder. After considerable controversy it is now accepted that most mood dysregulation in ADHD is not a precursor to bipolar disorder.

Philip is concerned about the effective use of inpatient resources to treat young people experiencing mental health problems. He has edited an open access book titled Longer-Term Psychiatric Inpatient Care for Adolescents: A Multidisciplinary Treatment Approach.