School mental health promotion: MindMatters as an example of mental health reform.

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Mental health promotion and prevention have been key reform agendas for Australia's national mental health strategies for more than 15 years. Several important paradigmatic shifts have occurred within this reform as a result of the public health and mental health nexus.

METHOD

A historical review of the development and implementation of MindMatters is used to exemplify the changes and outcomes of shifting policy and practice in school mental health promotion.

RESULTS

Achievements include a conceptualisation of mental health as a positive concept, addressing stigma, building capacity in the education sector and developing evaluation strategies to address complex, whole-school change. Key challenges have included professional paradigmatic differences and political and practical difficulties in nationally funded projects.

CONCLUSION

Quality school mental health promotion practices of creating supportive environments, taking a population health approach and working in settings and across sectors have been achieved to enhance the mental health of Australian secondary school communities.