News release

From: Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)

Research at a Glance:

• Phenomenal progress on boosting students’ mental health and wellbeing is being achieved under an initiative that will reach every state primary school in Victoria this year
• Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) is now accessible to all 1800 government and low-fee non-government primary schools in Victoria. It embeds a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader within schools paired with a professional learning program to help teachers better support students and strengthen referral pathways to mental health services
• A newly released evaluation report found that 80 per cent of MHiPS schools saw improvements in students’ mental health and wellbeing within two years. They noted increases to emotional literacy and seeking help, school connectedness and attendance and social skills
• It found after one year of implementation, 87 per cent of teachers had more confidence in supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing and 88 per cent reported a reduction in mental health stigma across staff and 83 per cent among families

Phenomenal progress on boosting student’s mental health and wellbeing is being achieved under an initiative that will reach every state primary school in Victoria this year.

The whole-school approach, developed by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in partnership with the University of Melbourne and supported by the Victorian Department of Education, is now accessible to all 1800 government and low-fee non-government primary schools. Following a successful pilot, the Victorian  Government committed $200 million over four years and $93.7 million ongoing for the initiative’s state-wide expansion.

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) embeds a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader within schools paired with a professional learning program to strengthen teacher’s capacity and capability to recognise and respond to mental health challenges among students while connecting families to additional education, social and health services.

A newly released evaluation report found that 80 per cent of MHiPS schools saw improvements in students mental health and wellbeing within two years. They noted increases to emotional literacy and seeking help, school connectedness and attendance and social skills.

It found after one year of implementation, 87 per cent of teachers had more confidence in supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing and 88 per cent reported a reduction in mental health stigma across staff and 83 per cent among families.

MCRI Dr Simone Darling said the report marked a significant milestone in the MHiPS journey.

“Conducting a rigorous evaluation across a statewide initiative of this size is a significant undertaking, and it reflects Victoria’s leadership in evidence-informed mental health reform,” she said. “The data shows not only positive impacts for students and school communities but also provides a benchmark for how large-scale prevention focused mental health initiatives can and should be evaluated nationally.”

MHiPS builds on a pilot that involved 100 schools across Victoria from 2020-2022. Following Victoria’s lead, the pilot was also adapted for all government and low fee non-government primary schools and one high school in Mount Isa, Queensland.

MCRI Professor Frank Oberklaid said MHiPS had made remarkable progress in advancing student mental health and wellbeing. He said given this success, the team hoped the initiative would be adopted nationwide.

“When children’s mental health concerns are not adequately addressed, it undermines their health, development and wellbeing and potentially has life-long implications,” he said.

“Despite early intervention being the key tool to preventing adverse long-term outcomes, not all services and supports are accessible to all families in the first five years of a child’s life, creating inequities.

“But our whole-school approach to wellbeing is producing phenomenal results in helping teachers better identify and support students and creating referral pathways to local mental health services.”

Professor Oberklaid said primary schools provided an ideal, universal setting for large-scale early intervention.

“Teachers are the most consistent and trusted adults outside the family who are able to notice changes in behaviour, provide support, and connect children to help early,” he said.

“These factors make schools best placed for identifying and responding to emerging mental health concerns in students. This is important because, despite increased investment in mental health services, rates of child mental ill health are increasing.”

Half of all cases of anxiety, mood, impulse control and substance use disorders emerge by the age of 14. Concerningly, less than one in four children experiencing problems receives mental health support, with those from non-English speaking backgrounds, younger children and girls the greatest affected.

University of Melbourne Dr Georgia Dawson said “MHiPS professional learning delivers gains in mental health literacy and provides a common, accessible language around mental health. This in turn supports work with families, conversations about mental health and making help more accessible for students.”

Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader Melissa Stivala said MHiPS complemented their schools’ existing approach to wellbeing.

“For our students, mental health and wellbeing is really important, and we help them to express it in a way that's suitable for them,” she said. “Ideally, through education we’re uplifting their mental health and wellbeing.

“The MHiPS training community and training sessions are very supportive. I can work with teachers on a one-to-one capacity, upskilling them with resources, programs, supports and referrals to help build up their capacity.”

Available for interview:

Professor Frank Oberklaid, MCRI Group Leader, Policy and Equity

Joanne Nolan, Principal, Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School

Melissa Stivala, Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, Principal Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School