Our Kids
Count

It's time for action...

Australian children's mental health and wellbeing is deteriorating at alarming rates. Half of all adult mental health conditions first emerge before the age of 14³, and over the past 15 years, the number of young people experiencing mental ill-health has grown by 50%⁴.

We need to urgently shift focus and realise this period of life for our kids really counts. An estimated 25-50% of adult mental illness can be prevented through early intervention during childhood and adolescence⁵.

More than 11,000 people joined our call for a Minister for Children in Australia to ensure children are adequately represented to turn this crisis around. On 30 November 2023, this collective call was heard at Parliament. To help reinforce the need for representation of kids’ mental health, we encourage our community to share the Our Kids Count report with their MPs and the Prime Minister’s Office. Let’s ensure the Government knows Australians want action, to turn the childhood mental health crisis around.