Deakin prioritises student mental health and wellbeing with 'whole of university' approach

The strategy leverages Orygen's Australian University Mental Health Framework, which provides guidance for universities and the mental health sector on how to work together to support student mental health and wellbeing to help them thrive both educationally and personally.

"Mental health and wellbeing affect all aspects of university life and Deakin recognises that the health and wellbeing of our students is a whole of university responsibility - it needs to be fostered," Professor Martin said.

"In recent years we have seen unprecedented disruption to people’s lives and universities have not been immune to these impacts and emerging challenges in relation to mental health, particularly for young people.

"Universities have a key role to play in shaping and supporting student and staff mental health and wellbeing. It’s a crucial part of ensuring our students have a safe, supportive and inclusive experience at Deakin."

Deakin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and Alfred Deakin Professor Liz Johnson emphasised the new commitment built on the program of work and achievements of Deakin's previous strategy first launched and implemented in 2019.

"We have already improved access to culturally safe and responsible counselling services for students with specific mental health and wellbeing needs and introduced new programs to raise mental health awareness, reduce stigmatisation and promote help-seeking behaviour among students," she said.

"Mental health literacy training has been expanded for staff with the introduction of the Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid training and the ongoing delivery of Mental Health First Aid programs, which are increasingly popular."

Professor Johnson said the University had made significant progress with these initiatives but there was more work to be done.

"The new strategy is a culmination of collaboration, consultation and engagement, drawing on expert knowledge, feedback and input from staff and students.

"'There are three key priority areas – prevention, response and continuous improvement – to provide focus over the next three years. These have been adapted from Orygen's framework and will be supported by annual action plans to guide the program of work."

Orygen's Chief of Research Professor Eoin Killackey said it was "absolutely fantastic to see Deakin University has become the first Australian university to develop their strategy around the six key principles of the Orygen framework."

Also in attendance at the launch were Deakin students and staff, and representatives from other mental health services including Molly Pearce, Molly Farell, and Yasmin Mole from the preventative mental health organisation batyr.

Associate Director of Government Relations and Policy at Orygen, Vivienne Browne, was also in attendance, as was Teresa Lombardo from the Bethany Group.

Deakin will continue to work collaboratively to understand and minimise the factors which heighten the risk of mental ill-health, and ensure our mental health strategies are planned, implemented, evaluated and that outcomes are shared.