The Mentally Healthy Futures Project

The Mentally Healthy Futures Project is a five-year project (2023-2027) aimed at building partnerships and providing holistic, evidence-based policy recommendations to improve the mental health of Australians now and into the future.

The Mentally Healthy Futures Project aims to improve mental health outcomes for Australians by examining current trends and the social determinants of mental health, with its work enriched by the expertise of people with lived and living experience.

This project also supports the continuation of Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank, Australia’s first Think Tank in mental health (established in 2020), bringing together experts from across the mental health sector to produce unified evidence-based directives for research and policy.

The Mentally Healthy Futures Project democratises diverse streams of evidence, drawing together the highest-quality global and local knowledge including academic literature, original research data, policy case studies, and lived experience expertise.

Our people

Professor Maree Teesson (Director), The Matilda Centre, the University of Sydney
Dr Marlee Bower, Academic Lead, Senior Research Fellow
Dr Scarlett Smout, Research Fellow
Amarina Donohoe-Bales, Research Officer, PhD Candidate
Camilla Sedgwick, Senior Project Officer
Lauren Scott, Research Assistant
Sonali Varma, Research Assistant
Sophia Spallek, Research Assistant

Our research

Active public spaces can protect against multiple dimensions of loneliness
This study explores how access to public spaces shapes experiences of loneliness, drawing on qualitative interviews with 46 Australians during COVID-19 restrictions. It shows that limitations on movement and reduced access to spaces outside the home highlighted the important social and emotional role of everyday public environments, including parks, streets and commercial settings.
Intimate Revolutions: the relationship between spatial form and personal change in the COVID-19 pandemic
This study examines how the spatial conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly prolonged confinement to homes and restricted mobility, shaped experiences of personal change. The findings show that the shift in living prompted many participants to reflect on their priorities and develop new orientations toward relationships, creativity and meaningful activities. Importantly, these changes were shaped by the qualities of domestic space, with the home environment enabling new practices and identities.
The social determinants of adolescent mental health
This study examines longitudinal patterns of mental disorder symptoms among a large cohort of Australian adolescents and explores how these are associated with key social determinants of health. Drawing on survey data from more than 6600 students across 71 schools, the study tracks changes in symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress over time. Findings show that mental disorder symptoms increased across adolescence with socioeconomic factors and gender emerging as key determinants with cisgender females and gender diverse adolescents reporting greater increase over time compared with cisgender males.
2025 Federal Election Submission. Building Mentally Healthy Futures: A Call to Action.
The 2025 Federal Election Submission, written by Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank outlines eight evidence-based policy recommendations to address key drivers of mental health issues among Australian youth. It emphasises the need for systemic changes to improve mental health outcomes and support recovery. The report also highlights the importance of collaboration between government, community organisations and healthcare providers. Subsequently, three of the recommendation areas were picked up in the Federal Government’s pre-election mental health funding promise.
Submission to the NSW Public Accounts Committee’s Parliamentary Inquiry: A framework for performance reporting and driving wellbeing outcomes in NSW.
The submission by the Mentally Healthy Futures project and the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use emphasises the need for comprehensive mental health metrics in the state’s upcoming wellbeing framework. The submission suggests incorporating measures of psychological distress and social and emotional wellbeing. It highlights the importance of meaningful consultation with young people and culturally appropriate measures for First Nations communities. The submission also recommends specific scales for assessing mental health and wellbeing, advocating for a more holistic approach to performance reporting and wellbeing outcomes in NSW. This submission, and the subsequent invited evidence provided by the MHFP team, were mentioned heavily in the Parliamentary Inquiry’s final report.

Mentally Healthy Futures Project submission to the Standing Committee on Social Issues: inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales.
The submission emphasises the significant mental health implications of loneliness and the need for targeted interventions. It advocates for policies that promote social connection and community engagement to mitigate loneliness. It also highlights the importance of integrating mental health support into broader social policies to create a more connected and mentally healthy society. This submission led to the MHFP team providing evidence to the parliamentary inquiry.
Submission to the Australian Government Treasury on Measuring What Matters: 
The Mentally Healthy Futures Project coordinated submissions from Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank and The Matilda Centre & PREMISE Youth Advisory Board regarding the Measuring What Matters Framework. Measuring What Matters is Australia’s first national wellbeing framework, aiming to track Australia’s progress using indicators that move beyond solely economic metrics such as GDP.
Policy implications of the 2020-2022 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing
This article discusses the policy implications for the 2020-2022 Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. It highlights a significant increase in the prevalence of mental disorders among Australians, particularly in the 16-24 age group, compared to 2007. The study emphasises the need for innovative prevention and treatment strategies, along with bold policy responses to address the rising rates of mental disorders.
Guidelines for the design and implementation of youth participation initiatives to safeguard mental health and wellbeing
This study, led by young people with lived experience of youth participation, explores the impact of youth participation initiatives on mental health and wellbeing. It highlights the positive effects, such as increased resilience, social skills, and self-esteem but also warns of potential negative impacts if interventions are not properly structured with young people’s wellbeing in mind. The guidelines emphasise the importance of well-designed programs to maximise benefits and minimise harms. It calls for more research to understand the effectiveness of these initiatives and to develop guidelines for their implementation.
Youth Participation Scoping Review 
It is increasingly common for young people to take part in advisory committees, participatory research, and consultations on decisions that impact them. The Mentally Healthy Futures Project conducted the first scoping review to comprehensively map the mental health & wellbeing impacts of youth participation and engagement initiatives. The protocol and scoping review are co-designed and co-authored with the Youth Mental Health Advisory Team (YMHAT): a group of eight 15-24-year-olds who provided invaluable feedback, guidance and expertise at each stage of the research process.
What set some young adults apart during the COVID-19 pandemic? Mental health trajectories, risk and protective factors in an Australian longitudinal study.
This study investigates the mental health trajectories of young adults in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies distinct patterns of anxiety and depression, with some groups showing stable symptoms and others experiencing significant changes. Key risk factors for severe symptoms including pre-existing mental health issues, stressful events, and identifying as LGBTQIA+ or female. The study emphasises the need for targeted psychosocial supports for vulnerable subgroups to aid recovery and resilience.
A hidden pandemic? An umbrella review of global evidence on mental health in the time of COVID-19
This article provides an umbrella review of global evidence on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reveals significantly higher rates of probable depression and anxiety compared to pre-pandemic levels. Vulnerable groups, including adolescents, pregnant and postpartum individuals and those hospitalised with COVID-19, experience heightened adverse mental health outcomes. The study underscores the need for policymakers to consider these findings to mitigate the mental health impacts in future pandemic responses.
Social Determinants of loneliness during COVID-19
This study examines the social determinants of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies personal, community and societal factors that contributed to increased loneliness such as low income, living alone and reduced social group engagement. The study highlights the importance of addressing these determinants through therapeutic initiatives that go beyond psychological interventions. It calls for comprehensive strategies to mitigate loneliness and improve mental health outcomes during and after pandemics.

Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank Report Card on Federal Government Investment in Key Drivers of Population Mental Health
Understanding inter-governmental policymaking processes and initiatives in mental health
Cross-government policies to improve and prevent mental ill-health
Better understanding and harnessing the impact of the built environment on mental health
Examining population patterns of social connection and its relationship with mental disorders
Examining links between civic participation and mental health in the Australian population
Investigating relationship between employment precocity and mental health in young Australians

Contact us

Email
If you are interested in working with us on any of our upcoming research projects, or have any questions or queries, please reach out to us via email: Mentally-Healthy-Futures@sydney.edu.au

Mailing address
The Matilda Centre, Level 6,
Jane Foss Russell Building (G02),
The University of Sydney, 2006