Mental health disorders among Australian school-aged children are increasing, with one in four children experiencing a mental health disorder at some point during their childhood. Many mental health issues emerge when children are entering puberty.

Mental health in schools across South Australia will be a top priority in the coming years, with implementing the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) project in up to 20 primary schools state-wide.

MHiPS was launched in Victoria in 2020. The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute developed it in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and co-designed it with the Victorian Department of Education. The project seeks to identify mental health issues among primary school students and bridge the gap between education, social services, and health services. This is achieved by directly placing a child mental health and well-being coordinator in schools. South Australian primary schools will utilise existing student wellbeing leaders. Ten schools will be selected to implement the project this year, and another ten schools will receive the project in 2025.

The project has been highly successful in Victoria, with 100 schools implementing the program and 95% of mental health and wellbeing coordinators reporting that the model has been beneficial in supporting students' needs.

Professor Frank Oberklaid, co-group leader of Child Health Policy, Equity and Translation at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, focuses on prevention and early intervention research to drive changes in public policy and service delivery.

“Schools are an ideal platform for promoting children’s mental health,” he told Education HQ.

“Yet, without resourcing and dedicated training and support, it can be challenging for teachers to navigate increasing issues in the classroom.

“The extra support will help teachers better support at-risk students and build referral pathways to local services”.

Due to the project's successful outcomes in Victoria, the Victorian Government pledged $200 million in June 2022 to implement MHiPS in every government and low-fee non-government primary school by 2026.

Sarah Doyle, a parent to a school-aged child in Adelaide, is relieved that the project is being rolled out across primary schools.

“I have a daughter in year five, and as a family, we have definitely struggled in the past year with mental health issues emerging. It’s been a tricky landscape to navigate, and we have often been unsure who to turn to. I think this project is needed, and I think many parents are going to feel comforted knowing that there are professionals available at school to help our kids if they are struggling with their mental health,” said Sarah.

South Australian Education Minister Blair Boyer told Education HQ that early identification of emerging mental health issues is crucial, as is early intervention.

“This helps improve overall wellbeing and prevent long-term issues,” said Boyer.

The project will be rolled out across schools in South Australia later this year.