Experts Launch Free School Mental Health Check in

A new, free digital check-in tool designed by youth mental health experts at Macquarie University is being rolled out nationwide to help Australian schools support their students’ mental health and wellbeing.

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 evidence-based data to better understand student mental health and wellbeing.

A pathway to early intervention, the platform 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.

“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 Dr Ron Rapee AM, internationally renowned youth mental health professor and My Mind Check lead scientific advisor.

One in seven children in Australia are experiencing mental health difficulties at any given time. By Year 9, 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.

Director of My Mind Check, 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.

My Mind Check provides the support and step-by-step guidance for schools to deliver  supervised check-ins. Suitable for all year groups, students answer age-appropriate questions about their mental health and wellbeing via a short survey.

All data are stored in Australia under 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 Dr 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.”

Schools across Australia have already begun registering and incorporating My Mind Check into their wellbeing strategies.

Schools interested in using My Mind Check can visit mymindcheck.org.au for more information.