Research: Mind the Gap: Strengthening Mental Health Support in Tertiary Education

Posted: 10/06/2025

Young Australians aged 15–24 experience the highest rates of mental health disorders, with over 200,000 university students facing mental ill health annually. Tertiary education settings, encompassing universities and vocational education and training (VET) institutions, are strategically positioned to address this challenge through prevention, early intervention, and support services. However, current efforts are fragmented and under-resourced, particularly within the VET sector. The Mitchell Institute’s policy brief recommends a comprehensive, whole-of-system approach, including national data collection on student mental health, increased investment in evidence-based interventions, enhanced mental health literacy among staff and students, and the development of tailored frameworks for both university and VET contexts.

Citation: Mitchell Institute. (2022). Improving the mental health of young people in tertiary education [Policy brief]. Victoria University. (link)

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Posted: 16/06/2026

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