When teenager Gianna was going through her darkest times, digital support services helped her see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Having been bullied at primary school, things only got worse when she reached high school, where she was often reduced to tears in class.
“Then the phone ban came in, so I didn’t have an escape or a way to contact support during school hours,” the now 19-year-old told AAP.
“That was my worst period.”
Gianna is among 40 per cent of students in Australia whose mental health at one point or another has reached crisis point.
Now at the end of her first year of university in Victoria, Gianna – who did not want her surname to be used – said it was digital tools such as Kids Helpline and Orygen’s MOST app that got her through her hardest times.
Having a conversation with someone “coming from a neutral standpoint” was part of the appeal.
A new government-funded digital tool, My Mind Check, hopes to help students before their struggles become severe.
Rolled out in schools across the nation, My Mind Check is a free and voluntary online survey for students to answer questions about their mood and stress levels.
Feedback is provided to their school and support staff who can monitor whether a student is vulnerable and how their mood is changing.
“In general, we know access to services like school psychologists, psychiatrists and pediatricians in some states takes two to three years,” Australian Parents Council president Jenny Branch-Allen said.
“That’s two to three years of education gone by the time student has got the support they need.”
If a school detects that a student is vulnerable via My Mind Check, they can step in with a support plan.
But teachers fear it could add to their already overwhelming workload.
“Digital tools can be valuable, but they are just tools, and they require human oversight to be effective,” said Australian Education Union federal president Correna Haythorpe.
Schools needed to be fully funded to boost wellbeing teams and qualified support personnel to help struggling students, she said.
“Principals, teachers and support staff are doing an extraordinary job, but they are being asked to do too much with too little.”
Experts agree that digital tools are not going to work for everyone, but they’re a useful option among a suite of resources needed to tackle the problem.
“We know only 50 per cent of those experiencing mental health challenges will access support services,” youth mental health researcher Jen Nicholas said.
Dr Nicholas leads a research program in digital mental health implementation at Orygen.
She said Orgyen’s mental health digital tool experienced peak usage between 3pm and 8pm.
“A lot of people are seeking mental health support or information when their usual touch points like teachers and school support services aren’t available and that’s what’s really important,” Dr Nicholas said.
For Gianna, My Mind Check’s lack of anonymity – in contrast to other digital support tools – leaves her skeptical it will be effective.
“It might be the rare occasion that it helps,” she said.
“But I don’t think it’s going to work.
“That might sound pessimistic but honestly, I know I was embarrassed by the fact I was struggling, and every time I tried to access support at school and tell teachers about it, they ignored me and pushed me away.”
Gianna believes students will be worried their parents or guardians will be told of their struggles, and they’ll be pulled out of class or treated differently.
“When I had my first panic attack at school, all the teachers were notified and treated me like an alien, which is obviously not a nice feeling,” she said.
“So a child might (use the tool) and then see the consequences of it doing more than harm than good.
“We need to educate students about their options and give them information to take away that they can use to help each other and themselves.”
The tools should be there to enhance, not replace, critical mental health services, Dr Nicholas said.
“We’re dealing with services that are overwhelmed and providing extra support and (an) extra option is really valuable.”
The relationship between parents and schools has room for improvement, Ms Branch-Allen said.
“Children should be able to advocate for themselves, and they are great advocates, but if the relationship between family, school and the community is strong, there will be better outcomes for students,” she said.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)