One in seven children experience in Australia ex mental health difficulties at any given time. By year nine, young people experiencing mental health concerns can be up to two years behind their peers academically.
Mental health difficulties can have a serious impact on peer relationships and family cohesion.
To help Australian schools proactively support their students’ mental health and wellbeing. a new, free digital check-in tool designed by world-renowned youth mental health experts at Macquarie University is being rolled out nationwide.
Based on years of clinical research and consultation with Australian education, health and community organisations, and funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, My Mind Check, provides schools with valuable, evidence-based data to better understand student mental health and wellbeing.
The early intervention pathway enables schools to perform 10–15-minute check-ins on their students throughout the school year, helping schools understand whether students may benefit from further information or attention. With caregiver or student permission, schools can easily track their students’ mood, stress levels and overall mental health and wellbeing over time.
Mental health challenges increasing
The initiative comes at a critical time with mental health challenges on the rise among young Australians.
“There are many reasons that the mental health of our young people is getting worse, yet despite improvements in recognition and education, many of these young people are still going unrecognised and slipping between the cracks,” says internationally renowned youth mental health professor and My Mind Check lead scientific advisor Dr Ron Rapee AM.
My Mind Check Director Dr Lauren McLellan says Australian schools have been asking for the right tools and resources to understand their student’s mental health and foster positive wellbeing.
“The importance of mental health in educational settings has become increasingly evident over the past few years, highlighting the urgent need for support and accessible resources,” she says.
“I am delighted to see schools already embracing My Mind Check. It’s incredibly empowering for students to have a voice regarding their mental health and wellbeing, and it’s crucial that school staff feel supported to use My Mind Check with their students.”
Step-by-step guidance
My Mind Check provides support and step-by-step guidance for schools to deliver supervised check-ins that are suitable for all year groups. Students are invited to answer age-appropriate questions about their mental health and wellbeing via a short survey. All data is stored in Australia and adheres to Commonwealth Government standards of cyber security and privacy.
The platform then provides a catalogue of specially curated resources to help support the teacher and caregiver to further understand and support their students’ mental health and wellbeing.
It also provides information on external programs that can be incorporated to assist students with mental health difficulties and provides information for students themselves.
“My Mind Check will transform the way we approach and understand mental health in schools,” says McLellan.
“Providing a resource that encourages self-reflection and supports individuals to understand their mental health is a significant step forward in prioritising student mental health and wellbeing.”
Kids deserve to thrive
Schools across Australia have already begun registering and incorporating My Mind Check into their wellbeing strategies.
“Families and teachers alike are crying out for resources like My Mind Check to support students’ mental health and wellbeing. Teachers are under immense pressure and are often not equipped or confident in handling these issues alone. This tool will help them focus on delivering the best education possible, which is what our kids deserve,” says the President of the Australian Parents’ Council Jenny Branch-Allen.
“With social media challenges and rising mental health issues, parents are struggling to find effective ways to support their children at home. My Mind Check is part of the solution we’ve been calling for – it’s ready to go, and we applaud the government for backing this valuable resource.
“The need for mental health support in schools is urgent, with some students waiting up to two or three years for external help. That’s far too long to wait. By making this tool available nationwide, we’re providing kids the opportunity to thrive, and building strong school and family communities to support them along the way.”
