The mental health of young Australians is in the spotlight again with a recent newspaper poll showing one in four young people aged sixteen to twenty-four thought about suicide over the past two years and 15 per cent attempted self-harm. The Age poll reveals a staggering eighty-two per cent said the pandemic caused their mental health issues.

Our new podcast series with Professor Daryl Higgins, director of Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies is therefore timely. In this first Figuring out Families podcast with Prof Higgins, he says parents need quicker and more improved access to evidence-based support programs to address these rising mental health problems. And he believes primary and secondary schools are well equipped to help deliver the programs that will best meet the needs of young Australians.