A whole school approach to supporting students' wellbeing and mental health
Schools play a critical role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all Queensland state school students. The department's
Student learning and wellbeing framework assists schools to implement a whole school approach to supporting students' mental health and wellbeing across the continuum—from universal promotion and prevention approaches to targeted responses for students' mental health concerns.
Educators, parents, children and young people themselves all have a role to play as part of a whole school approach in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all Queensland state school students.
Find specific information about how to support students' mental health and wellbeing.
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Information for parents, including
- strategies for supporting your child's mental health and wellbeing
- getting support for your child's mental health and wellbeing
- responding to traumatic events, including pandemics.
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Information for students, including
- supporting your wellbeing and staying safe
- looking out for your mental health
- where to get support for your mental health and wellbeing.
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Information for school staff, including
- departmental resources
- providing support
- external support agencies.
The importance of supporting students' wellbeing for enhancing learning and social and emotional development is well established. Nurturing students’ wellbeing in safe, supportive, and inclusive school and home environments assists children and young people to be resilient, confident, lifelong learners.
Resilient and confident students not only perform better academically but are more likely to develop and maintain healthy, positive relationships and make responsible lifestyle choices across the lifespan.
Wellbeing Workforce
Schools play a significant role in supporting student mental health and wellbeing, enhancing their engagement with learning.
The department has employed wellbeing professionals, including psychologists, social workers, guidance officers—wellbeing and youth workers to support student's mild to moderate mental health concerns, including referral for students and families to external agencies where appropriate.
Every Queensland state school has access to a wellbeing professional employed through the Wellbeing Workforce at school, at no cost to students or families. Wellbeing professionals work collaboratively as part of schools' established student support and leadership teams, contributing to schools' whole-school approach to supporting students' wellbeing and mental health. The Wellbeing Workforce compliments the existing support provided by a range of professionals including guidance officers, Queensland Health school-based youth health nurses, youth support coordinators and other departmental wellbeing support staff.