New research from Macquarie University
New research from Macquarie University’s Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre has demonstrated that brief online mental health check-ins within schools not only help identify at-risk youth but can actively improve student mental wellbeing over time.
Trialled with more than 10,000 Australian students, a quick online survey allowed students to report on topics like mood, anxiety, attention/concentration, and peer victimisation, which may reflect potential mental health risk factors.
Following the check-ins, schools received a list of students who reported that they were currently feeling emotional distress. Schools then provided feedback to caregivers for these students. This feedback included links to curated information and support resources.
The Brief Evaluation of Adolescents and Children Online (BEACON) project, which has just been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, demonstrated that:
- access to these check-ins and feedback improved student mental health outcomes
- one year later, 20 per cent fewer students reported emotional difficulties
- these same students attended school on 30 per cent more days than students from schools that didn’t run check-ins
Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee, lead researcher from Macquarie University’s Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre and My Mind Check scientific adviser, says the findings highlight the vital role schools can play in supporting youth mental health.
“Many young people with emotional disorders can fly under the radar, making it especially important to proactively identify and support them,” says Professor Rapee.
“Our research shows that students who participate in these check-ins not only feel more supported but also report significant improvements in mental health a year later, including reduced school absences and fewer mental health challenges.
The reason for this requires further investigation, but it may be that just doing the screening made them aware that their mental health was something they could get help with, and they could talk about it with their friends, families and teachers,” he says.
“I think it led to a lot of families opening up conversations, and the kids also felt better able to be honest about any difficulties they were having.”
The BEACON project, which received nearly $750,000 in funding from the Bupa Health Foundation and Macquarie University, was developed in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education, NSW Health, the Mental Health Commission of NSW and major education bodies.
The study also found the positive effects on students’ mental health and school attendance, along with the low cost of the program, would show a very good return on investment if applied across Australia.
The BEACON research directly informed the development of My Mind Check, a free digital platform launched in 2024, funded by the Australian Government Department of Education.
My Mind Check enables schools to perform 10–15-minute check-ins on their students’ wellbeing 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.
Dr Lauren McLellan, Director of My Mind Check, emphasises the transformative potential of the BEACON project findings for Australian schools.
“This research validates what we’ve long suspected – that giving students a voice in their mental health journey can lead to better outcomes,” says Dr McLellan. “Having concrete research to show that My Mind Check can make a meaningful difference provides a compelling case for schools to implement it.”
The findings come at a crucial time, with about 14 per cent of young Australians experiencing emotional disorders, and the impacts clearly felt by teachers and schools.
View an overview (free) or the full research (subscription required): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890856725000681
If you have questions or would like to enquire about using My Mind Check in your school: Click Here
Full research citation: Ronald M. Rapee, Rebecca-Lee Kuhnert, Ian Bowsher, John R. Burns, Jennifer Coen, Julie Dixon, Pauline Kotselas, Catherine Lourey, Lauren F. McLellan, Cathrine Mihalopoulos, Lorna Peters, Traci Prendergast, Tiffany Roos, Danielle Thomas, Viviana M. Wuthrich, ‘A cluster randomized trial of the impact of school-based, universal, mental health screening and feedback on students’ mental health and help-seeking’, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2025.01.032.