Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

3. Fund and implement the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy to support families  

In Australia, half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14 and more than 50% of children experiencing mental health challenges are not receiving professional help.

A child’s mental health in the early years of their life has a substantial impact on their mental health trajectory later in life, meaning the early years are an important opportunity for prevention and early intervention, including through support for families and carers.

The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy sets out eight key principles:

1. Child centred
2. Strengths based
3. Prevention focused
4. Equity and access
5. Universal system
6. Evidence-informed best practice and continuous quality evaluation
7. Early intervention
8. Needs based, not diagnosis driven

The Strategy has several focus areas, including the importance of family and community, improved service integration and access, targeted education programs and meaningful data collection.

Ensuring that this Strategy is fully funded and implemented will substantially expand mental health support for children, young people and their families and carers.

Click here to download an information sheet about this ask.