Australia's first National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy has launched

Today, National Mental Health Commission CEO, Christine Morgan, joined Minister Hunt to launch the National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Strategy outlines the requirements for an effective system of care for children, seeking to create a new, shared understanding of the roles of families, communities, services, and educators in promoting and supporting child mental health and wellbeing.

A commitment to a national approach to mental health and suicide prevention could not be achieved without ensuring the mental health and wellbeing needs of our children. 

Every child deserves the right to be supported and grow in a safe and healthy environment. To achieve this, Australia requires a nationally consistent mental health and wellbeing system that supports all children and their communities to thrive.

The National Mental Health Commission was tasked with developing the National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in 2019 as part of the Australian Government's long-term national health plan. This is the first time a national government has developed a strategy that considers mental health and wellbeing outcomes for children from birth to 12 years of age, as well as their families and communities who nurture them.

The Strategy uses four focus areas to outline the requirements for an effective system of care for children:

• Family and Community
• Service System
• Education Settings
• Evidence and Evaluation

It provides a framework to guide crucial investment in the mental health and wellbeing of children and their families.

If you missed the webinar launch, you can watch it online now.

Click here to access the Strategy At a Glance.