Unpacking positive mental health and wellbeing
Positive mental health and wellbeing is important for your child or teen’s healthy development and learning. It supports them to manage the normal challenges of life.
Environments, experiences, relationships and individual characteristics all contribute to mental health and wellbeing.
For children and teens, wellbeing is supported when they:
- feel valued, loved and safe
- have their basic material needs met
- have physical, mental, emotional and social health
- can learn (in and outside the classroom)
- participate in decision-making
- are connected to their community
- have a positive sense of identity and culture.
Mental health exists on a continuum
It can be helpful to think of mental health and mental ill-health as existing along a continuum.
We all move along the continuum as we face challenges and situations that test our capacity to cope and change our mental health. Our mental health can change slowly or quickly.
Most people will experience changes in their mental health at some point during their lifetime. Social, emotional and environmental factors all influence our position along the continuum. Learn more about the mental health continuum.
Even if someone isn’t experiencing mental ill-health, that doesn’t mean their mental health is flourishing. Alternatively, it is possible to be diagnosed with a mental illness and still feel well and function effectively in many aspects of life.
Supporting your child’s wellbeing at home
As parents and carers, you’re already doing lots of things to support your child’s mental health and wellbeing. You can continue to protect your child’s mental health and wellbeing by developing and promoting:
- healthy sleeping habits
- healthy eating habits
- physical activity
- strong and nurturing relationships
- positive self-talk and providing praise, encouragement
- mindfulness, kindness and gratitude
- social and emotional skills
- healthy online habits
- help seeking.
Raising Children Network have resources for every age and stage, supporting busy parents and carers with the latest evidence on child and adolescent health and wellbeing. Visit their website for guidance to support children (5-8 years old), pre-teens (9-11 years) and teens (12-18 years).
Helping your child with online life
Being online and screen time can affect young people’s sleep, mood and wellbeing. ScrollSafe’s parent and carers hub provides simple tips and advice for talking with your teen about social media, the internet, and mental health. The guide and short video show easy ways to start conversations, model healthy social media use, and support your teen to stay safe and well online.
Apps
Find practical parenting tips on boosting your child’s mental and wellbeing, plus answers to key questions on when, why and how to seek support at the raising a healthy mind app.
Mental Health support during school holidays
Mental health support, resources and advice are available for students and families to access over the school holidays. Two fact sheets for students and families:
- support positive mental health and wellbeing of students
- identify signs students may need mental health support
- access available support.
These fact sheets are also available in 27 different languages.
To access the factsheets, including translated factsheets, visit: mental health supports for students over school holidays.
Parenting support
All parents and carers need support to build confidence and skills or to discuss specific concerns.
Online and phone support
- Kids Helpline - parents provides written resources and advice on supporting your child’s mental health.
- ReachOut provides free 1:1 online parent coaching for parents of teens aged 12-18.
- Rasing Children Network offers written parenting advice tailored to every age and stage of development.
- Parenting Strategies provides practical guidance on how parents can support their child’s wellbeing.
- Rainbow Door offers a free specialist LGBTIQ+ helpline with information, support, and referrals for all LGBTIQ+ Victorians and their friends and family.
- Parents of Gender Diverse Children provide peer support for parents plus information, referrals and connections.
- Transcend provides peer support for families with transgender and gender diverse children including information, advocacy and connections.
Parenting programs
- Triple P- Positive Parenting Program is an evidence-based toolbox for raising happy and confident children and teens. All families in Victoria can do free Triple P programs to help support every child’s emotional wellbeing and every family’s mental health.
- Partners in Parenting PLUS (PiP+) is an evidence-based parenting program designed to help parents raise their teenager (12- 17 years) with confidence.
- Regional Parenting Services offer local services to gain skills and confidence to support your child's development.
- The Strengthening Parent Support Program supports families with a child who has a disability or developmental delay.
More information on Victorian Government Services for parents and carers.
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