About the Study
Young Minds: Our Future will provide updated prevalence rates of common mental health disorders among Australian children and adolescents, helping shape future services and support.
Young Minds, Our Future is a national study that will help shape a better understanding of children's and young people's mental health and well-being.
The Australian government has brought together leading universities to conduct this vital research. The study will reveal how many kids and young people are struggling versus thriving, the impact of mental disorders on kids' lives, what services kids use, and what stops others getting the help they need, how mental health affects learning and education, and what factors influence mental health from family relationships to social media and beyond.
We're interviewing 6 and a half thousand parents or carers of kids aged 4 to 17 and 3 and a half thousand young people.
Participants are chosen completely at random to ensure all kinds of families are represented.
Parents will take part in a 60-minute interview and young people complete a 30inut tablet survey. All parents and adolescents who participate will receive an FPOS card as thanks. All data is confidential and stored securely.
This is the third Australian child and adolescent survey of mental health and well-being, the first in more than 12 years, and a lot has changed.
Previous studies contributed to increased investment in mental health services for children and young people and better school mental health support.
This research will lead to changes that will enhance the lives of kids and families across Australia.
When we understand and invest in our kids, we all benefit.
Where is the study up to?
Fieldwork commenced in November 2025 and will run for up to 12 months.
Trained Roy Morgan interviewers are conducting face-to-face interviews with families nationwide. Households are randomly selected to participate.
The survey includes:
- 6,500 parents/carers of children aged 4–17 years (face-to-face interviews)
- 3,500 adolescents aged 11–17 years (electronic self-complete questionnaire)
More details on eligibility and participation can be found on the study website.
Results are expected in 2027. Updates will be shared as fieldwork progresses.
Why it is important
The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy (2021) highlighted the need for more national data about children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Evidence from this study will help Governments and mental health service providers to:
- plan mental health services for children and adolescents
- find out whether existing services are appropriate to meet needs
- decide whether extra services are needed, and
- benchmark progress in achieving national and jurisdictional goals in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents.
Goals of the project
The aims of the study are to:
| Primary aim | Update national prevalence rates of mental health disorders for Australian children and adolescents (aged 4-17), including examining changes since 2013/14 |
|---|---|
| Secondary aims | Investigate early symptoms (subsyndromal or pre-disorder) |
| Measure impairment associated with mental health symptoms and disorders | |
| Establish rates of suicidality and self-harm | |
| Investigate help seeking, including service use, in children and adolescents with mental health symptoms/conditions and how this has changed since YMM | |
| Consider educational context in relation to mental health |
These aims were shaped by advice from stakeholders and young people with lived experience.
Who we work with
Curtin University, in partnership with the University of Queensland and Roy Morgan Research, will design and undertake Young Minds: Our Future
The design and implementation of the study has been informed by a Youth Advisory Group, a Parent/Carer Advisory Group, a Scientific Reference Group and a National Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Related information
The last national study of mental disorder rates in children was in 2013–14. See the report from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Young Minds Matter (published in 2015).
Contact
Contact us if you have any questions about the study.
