Mental disorders are a significant public health problem, which often begin in childhood and adolescence and can negatively impact social, emotional and academic outcomes.

As such, it is important to prevent mental disorders in young people through the implementation of mental health education and early intervention programs. Schools have been identified as an ideal setting in which to deliver these programs due to their unprecedented contact with young people. However, the delivery of mental health prevention programs in schools, particularly primary schools, has been mixed.

Conducted in partnership with the ACT Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing, the aim of the current study is to identify what types of mental health programs are currently delivered to primary-school aged children in the ACT and the barriers and facilitators to delivering mental health programs in primary schools.

This research will assist in identifying strategies to increase and improve the delivery of mental health education programs in ACT primary schools.