New data reveals that half of the Australian teachers surveyed have no time to focus on their students' mental health needs.

The findings, from a Beyondblue survey, should raise concern for all schools.

Survey statistics

The survey results have been announced in the context of the newly redeveloped MindMatters program.

600 teachers and principals were questioned by independent social research agency, TNS Social Research and the results included the following statistics:

• 1 in 5 said that they were not confident handling the mental health issues of their students;
• less than 50% agreed it was easy to find training tools that help staff address their students' mental health; and
• about 50% said that the demands of teaching meant that they didn't have time to attend to the mental health needs of their students.

These figures should not be surprising given our previous article which included data showing that 95% of teachers receive no mental health training.

MindMatters

MindMatters is a mental health initiative for secondary schools that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

The Commonwealth Government through the Department of Health, provided funding to redevelop the MindMatters framework and work with the Principals Australia Institute to sign up 1,500 schools across Australia over the next three years.

The program is urging schools to make mental health 'a priority for 2015'.

Beyondblue Chairman, The Hon. Jeff Kennett AC said the new MindMatters initiative enables secondary schools to make 'mental health and wellbeing a priority, by giving them online training, which is manageable for teachers who are already time-poor, and accessible easy-to-implement strategies.'

Your school

The need for schools to be alive to student mental health issues is part of a school’s duty of care. Just as teachers need to be trained to recognise and respond to the needs of students who have life-threatening allergies, they also need to be trained to recognise mental health issues so that they can help their students seek appropriate treatment and assistance.

Student mental health is an issue that, importantly, is receiving increasing attention in society.  Our previous articles about fear and anxiety raising amongst children and tools to help students manage those conditions, such as yoga, revealed the epidemic that is threatening the health and wellbeing of Australian students.

Currently, while registration requirements for non-government schools require schools to have in place policies and procedures for 'student welfare' including pastoral care services, they don't stipulate that, as part of their student welfare programs, non-government schools are required to have policies and procedures to manage student mental health and wellbeing.

But, like anaphylaxis management policies, which Victorian schools are required to implement under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), legislative change may occur to require schools to have and implement specific policies on the proper management of student mental health in light of increased public concern about the mental health of young people.

Implementing training procedures for teachers on such policies may then also become a mandatory requirement.

Does your school provide mental health resources and training to staff?