Research: How Well Do University Policies Cover Mental Health?

Universities play a crucial role in supporting student mental health, however, national consistency in strategy and policy remains limited. This research reviewed 39 Australian universities to assess how well their mental health policies align with Orygen’s Australian University Mental Health Framework, which sets six principles for creating mentally healthy campus environments. These principles emphasise student-informed approaches, community responsibility, inclusion and belonging, collaboration, accessible support, and ongoing evaluation.

Results of this research suggest that only 25 universities (64%) had a public mental health policy or strategy, and most demonstrated weak alignment with the Framework (i.e. average score of 3.9/12). Policies tended to focus on access to counselling but lacked coordinated, whole-of-university approaches. The findings highlight an urgent need for universities to strengthen leadership, governance, and cross-sector collaboration to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based mental health strategies. This will enable universities to move beyond simply responding to student distress and towards actively creating environments that nurture wellbeing, enhance retention, and support long-term success of their students.

Citation: Hutchesson, M., Burrows, T., Couper, L., Kavalec, S., Knapp, A., Harrison, Z., & Gomersall, S. Policies and strategies to promote optimal mental health of Australian university students: A document review. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. 2025. (link)