Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health Check-Ins at School

Brief online mental health check-ins in schools help identify at-risk youth but can actively improve student mental wellbeing over time.

Trialled with over 10,000 Australian students, a quick, online survey to identify young people at risk of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and peer victimisation was tested.

My Mind Check enables schools to perform 10-15-minute check-ins on their students’ wellbeing 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.

The findings come at a crucial time, with approximately 14 percent of young Australians experiencing emotional disorders, yet only a quarter receiving professional help.

Following the check-ins, schools received a list of students who reported that they were currently feeling emotional distress and then provided feedback to caregivers for these students.

The Brief Evaluation of Adolescents and Children Online (BEACON) project, which has just been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, demonstrated that simply participating in these screenings improved mental health outcomes - at schools that conducted check-ins, one year later, 20% fewer students reported emotional difficulties and they attended school on 30% more days than students from schools that didn’t run check-ins.

Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee, lead researcher from Macquarie University's Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre and My Mind Check lead scientific advisor, says the findings highlight the important role schools can play in supporting youth mental health.

"Many young people with emotional disorders can fly under the radar, making it especially important to proactively identify and support them," says Professor Rapee.

"Our research shows that students who participate in these check-ins not only feel more supported but also report significant improvements in mental health a year later, including reduced school absences and fewer mental health challenges.

“The reason for this requires further investigation, but it may be that just doing the screening made them aware that their mental health was something they could get help with, and they could talk about it with their friends, families, and teachers,” he says.

“I think it led to a lot of families opening up conversations, and the kids also felt better able to be honest about any difficulties they were having.”

The BEACON project, which received nearly $750,000 in funding from the Bupa Health Foundation and Macquarie University, was developed in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education, NSW Health, the Mental Health Commission of NSW, and major education bodies. The study also found the effects on students' mental health and school attendance, along with the low cost of the program, would show a very good return on investment if applied across Australia.

The BEACON research directly informed the development of My Mind Check, a free digital platform launched in 2024, funded by the Australian Government Department of Education.

Dr Lauren McLellan, Director of My Mind Check, emphasises the transformative potential of the BEACON project findings for Australian schools.

"This research validates what we've long suspected - that giving students a voice in their mental health journey can lead to better outcomes," says Dr McLellan. "Having concrete evidence that our evidence-based school mental health check-in platform My Mind Check can make a meaningful difference provides a compelling case for schools to implement it."

To view the full research visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890856725000681

Image by Jacub Gomez