A recent study by Monash University reveals that a mental health and wellbeing program implemented in more than 100 Australian schools has significantly improved outcomes for over 40,000 high school students—particularly when sustained over six years.
The research, led by PhD candidate Dr. Roshini Balasooriya Lekamge in collaboration with the Resilience Project and Resilient Youth Australia, was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. It evaluated the Resilience Project School Partnership Program, which promotes mental health through teaching gratitude, empathy, emotional literacy, and mindfulness to students, teachers, and parents.
The findings come amid growing concern about adolescent mental health in Australia. The 2023 State of the Nation Report revealed that 27.4% of primary school students and 35.9% of secondary students report experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression, or both.
“Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time for mental health challenges,” Dr. Balasooriya Lekamge explained. “A recent meta-analysis identified the peak onset age for mental illness at 14.5 years. Moreover, an Australian national study found that nearly one-third of males and almost half of females aged 16–24 had experienced a mental illness in the prior year, marking the highest prevalence among any age group.”
Recognising that students spend much of their time at school, Dr. Balasooriya Lekamge emphasised the critical role of effective, school-based mental health programs. The Resilience Project, now in use across 1,150 Australian primary and secondary schools, aims to foster resilience through a whole-school approach involving students, teachers, and parents.
Unlike previous studies that have typically examined programs implemented over two to three years, this Monash University research assessed outcomes based on varying program durations, from two up to eight years, across 102 schools and 40,149 students in Grades 7 to 12 during 2023.
The results showed that schools with at least six years of program implementation demonstrated significantly better mental health outcomes compared to control schools, including higher life satisfaction, hope, coping skills, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. Notably, improvements in depression rates appeared in schools running the program for four to five years, while no significant benefits were observed in schools with only two to three years of implementation.
“This study highlights the importance of long-term commitment to whole-school mental health programs,” Dr. Balasooriya Lekamge said. “Our findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers and public health stakeholders, suggesting sustained investment is necessary for these programs to achieve their full potential in supporting adolescent mental wellbeing.”
