Students still struggling mentally, but tide is turning

The latest Resilient Youth: State of the Nation Report has revealed Australia’s young people are still struggling mentally.

However, for the first time since reporting began in 2019, student wellbeing has stabilised or slightly improved, breaking a worrying trend of year-on-year declines.

More than 149,000 students from 800 schools across Australia complete the annual Resilience Survey, with the University of Adelaide and Resilient Youth Australia analysing the results.

The report aims to highlight key trends in student mental health, learning engagement, resilience and social behaviours.

In 2024, nearly one third of secondary students and more than one quarter of primary students experienced high levels of depression or anxiety symptoms, or both.

Many more students reported moderate levels of mental distress, raising concerns about their vulnerability to additional stressors.

While hopefulness and life satisfaction scores suggested that, on average, students felt they were doing OK, a significant proportion remained at high risk for poor mental health.

“Despite the remaining concern when it comes student mental wellbeing in Australia, the 2024 data show two-thirds of Australian students reported a moderate to high degree of resilience, demonstrating their ability to adapt despite mental health challenges."Lead researcher Dr Mark Kohler, Leader of the University of Adelaide’s Wellbeing in Learning and Development Laboratory

“As students are given access to better resources to support their wellbeing, or as the social environment improves, it’s likely that they can leverage this resilience to overcome challenges and improve wellbeing," he said.

In addition to the high rates of depression and anxiety symptoms, learning disengagement remains a serious issue, with around half (50 per cent to 55 per cent) of students at risk due to high anxiety, avoidant coping behaviour, or both. Only 18 per cent of primary and 16 per cent of secondary students reported having a ready to learn mindset.

“While most students felt supported at home most of the time, around one in three students reported being bullied at school at least once a month, and 27 per cent of secondary students say they do not often feel safe at school,” said Dr Kohler.

“Additionally, the for the first time, the report summarises students’ connection to nature as this may play a role in student wellbeing; however, the level of connection students have to nature declines as they progress through school.”

The report highlights significant gender differences, with female and gender-diverse students reporting poorer mental wellbeing outcomes than their male peers. Gender-diverse students reported particularly high-risk outcomes, with between three and six in 10 in the high-risk category for all measures of mental wellbeing and learning disengagement. This represented two to three times greater risk than males.

“Socioeconomic status (SES) remains a key factor, with students from lower SES backgrounds more likely to experience mental wellbeing challenges,” said Dr Kohler.

“Geographic differences were also evident, with students in metro areas generally reporting better outcomes than those in rural or remote regions.”

Resilient Youth Australia Director Dr Andrew Wicking said the report underscored the need for continued investment in student mental health and wellbeing.

“While the stabilisation of wellbeing scores offers a glimmer of hope, the findings call for sustained efforts from policymakers, educators, parents, and communities to support young Australians,” said Dr Wicking.

“These changes in wellbeing trajectory, while worth celebrating, shouldn’t precipitate or excuse a relaxed approach to student wellbeing.

“They are likely the result of hard work by program providers, schools, and parents over the past years, and this work needs to continue if we are to reverse the alarming rates of wellbeing concerns amongst students."

National provider The Resilience Project delivers whole school wellbeing programs to support student and teacher mental wellbeing and resilience.

"The schools we partner with do an amazing job in supporting the wellbeing of their students and teachers," said CEO Ben Waterman.

"We have seen firsthand those who have committed to implementing the program long-term have seen a very positive shift in the wellbeing profile of their school.

"We support a long-term commitment and focus on student wellbeing across the country."

More details are available in the full Resilient Youth: State of the Nation Report.