Helping students cope with anxiety
Help students manage anxiety and look after their mental health throughout their school experience.
Educators are often among the first to notice changes in a student’s behaviour, emotions or engagement. Through daily interactions, teachers play a vital role in responding early, offering support and connecting students with help when anxiety or mental health concerns arise.
On this page, you will find resources for students in Foundation to Year 12, designed to help educators support student mental health, navigate anxiety and foster wellbeing across the school experience. All resources are curriculum-aligned and support the principles of the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
Looking to promote student-led learning? Check out our student topic pages where students can filter by year level to explore age-appropriate wellbeing information and resources independently.
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Discover resources for the classroom
Explore the following resources for in-classroom strategies and support.
The BRAVE Program
An interactive, online program for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety.
Children's books about bushfires
Find a listing of story books suitable for young children on this topic.
Emotional health: Stress and anxiety
Free resources from the Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, which support children and teens with stress and anxiety.
Supporting self-regulation skills in the classroom: Webinar recording
This webinar explores how building interoception skills can help children and young people to self-regulate their emotions and feelings, be calm and engage with learning, have positive wellbeing, and improve their academic performance.
Foster a whole-school approach
Explore the following resources for strategies, policies and research relevant to the wider school environment.
My mind check
My Mind Check is a free and voluntary online mental health check-in tool to help schools monitor and support students’ social, psychological, and physical wellbeing.
When do day to day worries turn into anxiety – and how can primary schools help students?
In this webinar targeted at primary schools, psychologist Dr Lyn O'Grady delves deep into children's worries and what primary schools can do to support them.
The secondary school’s role in understanding and responding to student anxiety
In this webinar targeted at secondary schools, psychologist Dr Lyn O'Grady unpacks the impact of life's uncertainties on students' mental health and the secondary school's role in helping students with anxiety.
Principles of practice to support Student Wellbeing and Mental Health
AINSW outlines 11 principles as considerations for schools when supporting the wellbeing and mental health of all students through education, prevention, early identification, intervention, and ongoing support.
A systemic framework for trauma-aware schooling in Queensland
A comprehensive report on the ongoing consequences of childhood trauma.
Supporting girls' mental health
A panellist of educators and a community psychologist share their insights on issues facing girls’ mental health, drawing upon their experiences, research and practice.
Engage with parents, carers and community
Share and discuss the following resources with parents and carers in your school community.
Anxiety: The parents website
A curated selection of news, features and resources for parents on raising and educating children.
Raising children: Mental health
A collection of articles, videos and guides related to mental health for professionals.
Bushfires and mental health
Beyond Blue has a range of advice to assist communities and individuals affected by bushfires.
Teenage depression
Find reliable advice to support parents in the day-to-day work of raising children while looking after their own needs.
Talking to children about natural disasters, traumatic events, or worries about the future
This video introduces ways for parents and carers to manage media coverage of traumatic events and talk to their children about their worries and fears.
Supporting children after a community trauma
This podcast explores the importance of addressing the psychosocial needs of children following a community trauma.
Deepen your understanding
Gain insights and deepen your understanding of this topic with research and professional learning opportunities.
Orygen: Mental health
Resources and modules about mental health and young people.
Interoception and self-regulation
This free online course is suitable for primary and secondary educators with an interest in supporting children and young people with emotional self-regulation, mental health and wellbeing, and social and emotional skills.
Coping with emotional challenges in career development: Webinar recording
In this webinar, Dr Michael Healy, myfuture’s National Career Education Manager, and Jill Wilson, Student Wellbeing Hub Content Manager, discuss how career development influences, and is influenced by, wellbeing and emotional resilience.
Coping with emotional challenges in career development
Practical tips and resources from my future – Australia’s national career information service – to help young people navigate the emotional challenges that can arise throughout career development learning.
Coping with anxiety
Anxiety and anxiety disorders are on the rise among students in Australia.
Mindfulness meditation: Webinar recording
Recording of Nicole Lee's webinar on mindfulness meditation.
Prompt a discussion
Spark staff discussion and reflection with these practical questions aligned to the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
How might staff co-design classroom practices with students to better support mental health and inclusion?
How can all staff ensure mental health supports are consistent, visible and understood by every student across our school?
How can we better involve parents and carers in planning supports for students experiencing anxiety or stress?
In what ways can staff professional development clarify our collective responsibility for supporting student mental health?
Discover ways to use the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework in your school.
