Australia’s schools are facing a growing mental health crisis, with alarming rates of anxiety, depression, and stress among students. Research suggests that by Year 9, young people with mental health concerns are on average two years behind their peers in reading, writing and maths.
Sadly, more than 45% of young people diagnosed with a mental health condition do not get the help they need, and despite various school wellbeing programs, many students feel these initiatives fall short of addressing their needs.
However, conducting mental health and wellbeing checks in schools is a potential answer to help improve educational outcomes for students. Recognising this, the Federal Government commissioned Macquarie University to develop and deliver a free digital check-in tool designed to better understand the mental health and wellbeing of students across all year levels.
Internationally renowned Professor Ron Rapee AM, Dr Lauren McLellan and their team at Macquarie University developed ‘My Mind Check’, based on their own and published clinical research. This included extensive collaboration across education sectors and engagement with Australian states and territories, the federal government, health and mental health experts.
Below, The Educator speaks to My Mind Check’s director, Dr McLellan, about how the tool stands out from other student wellbeing resources, how educators can measure its success, and how schools can maintain its positive impact over time.
TE: What are the most important ways My Mind Check stands out from other in-school wellbeing tools that are currently available for young people in 2024?
We believe we have brought together many of the strongest features of a range of tools previously available to schools. My Mind Check is a free, Commonwealth government funded tool that measures mental health and wellbeing for students from all year levels, generating real-time insights for schools and a tool that can be easily integrated with existing wellbeing initiatives. Schools can view group level information as well as individual student outcomes (with follow–up guidelines) on both mental health and wellbeing. It has been designed specifically to give students a voice for their own mental health, giving schools a greater understanding to better support the wellbeing of their students. Very importantly, school staff are supported by simple processes, easy to use systems and curated resources to ensure My Mind Check is easy to implement.
TE: I understand My Mind Check provides follow-up guidance to support school staff in addressing individual student wellbeing issues. What does this look like?
My Mind Check offers streamlined processes to support educators, from initial setup to student follow-up. Designated school staff use a simple traffic light system to quickly assess each student's outcomes, aiding teacher understanding. The follow-up process then guides staff in reviewing and communicating these outcomes as needed, with actions clearly documented. Schools also access a curated resource hub user-friendly templates for engaging with students and caregivers, and an automatically generated communication template that details individual outcomes, with links to tailored resources. Additionally, My Mind Check provides information on external programs to support students facing mental health challenges and offers resources directly for students themselves.
TE: How do you measure the success of this tool to ensure it is having a meaningfully positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the young people who access it?
According to recent feedback, 99% of educators feel that My Mind Check will be a valuable resource to support student mental health and wellbeing. It provides a broader approach to student support across all year levels. To ensure the tool is making a meaningful, positive impact on the health and wellbeing of young people, we measure its success through both user feedback and tangible outcomes within schools. Success indicators include the tool's adoption and integration into schools’ strategic responses to youth mental health.
TE: How sustainable is My Mind Check in terms of long-term implementation, and what resources are required for schools to maintain its use effectively over time?
It’s designed to be a sustainable and long-term solution for Australia schools to support student wellbeing. My Mind Check enables schools to perform 10–15-minute check-ins on their students’ flexibly throughout the school year, making it easy for schools to integrate and align with current wellbeing initiatives without overburdening staff or students.
To maintain the use of My Mind Check effectively over time, schools require only minimal resources:
• Technology – Since the platform is digital, schools need access to basic technology like computers, tablets and some level of internet connection. Most schools already have these in place, reducing the need for additional investment.
• Authorised staff to use the platform – My Mind Check offers a user-friendly interface, requiring only brief initial onboarding for authorised staff, which can be easily refreshed or updated as needed.
The scalable nature of the platform also means that it can grow with schools, adapting to changes in student needs or school infrastructure.
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