What is MindMatters?

A mental health promotion resource for secondary schools.

MindMatters:

• uses a whole school approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention
• aims to enhance the development of school environments where young people feel safe, valued, engaged and purposeful
• helps schools and their communities including teachers, parents and students to take positive action to create a climate of mental as well as physical health within secondary schools.

MindMatters uses a Health Promoting Schools Framework developed by the World Health Organisation  - see Resource 1 for more information.
Figure 2 shows how schools can be an environment to provide support to the entire school community, including all students and teachers, as well as those who have higher levels of need for intervention.

• At the first level, the wellbeing of the entire school community can be promoted by creating a school environment that is conducive to the development of mental health and wellbeing. 
• At the second level, the mental health-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of all students and teachers can be improved. 
• At the third level, are the 20-30% of students in a school who may be experiencing problems and who need additional support to deal with these problems. 
• At the final level, are the 3-12% of students who are experiencing significant problems and need professional intervention to help them cope.