Smiling Mind Generation

Many Australian adults have reaped the benefits of preventative health initiatives that targeted them as children to reduce skin cancer, heart disease and other illnesses. We believe the same can be achieved with mental illness. That’s why Smiling Mind and DECJUBA Foundation are partnering to support this generation of children to grow up with the skills and resources they need to thrive and feel amazing throughout their lives. 

We teach children to eat healthy food and to be active. We teach children to wear sunscreen and hats and stay in the shade. We share the knowledge and skills with them to understand how to keep their bodies healthy and we do this from such a young age that by the time they are adults, it's second nature. 

Teaching children how to care for their mental health is equally important and we think these skills should be taught to every primary school aged Australian child. Teaching children the skills to maintain their own mental health empowers them to achieve their full potential. An estimated 25-50% of adult mental illness can be prevented through early intervention during childhood and adolescence⁴. 

Ensuring all children are taught the specific skills to help them understand, recognise, discuss, and respond to their unique mental health needs underpins resilience - it’s the foundation for growing young people into adults who have the coping skills they need, the ability to self-regulate and the self-belief that they can navigate the challenges that come their way. 

The paradigm shift towards mental health and physical health being equally important to actively practise and maintain is the generational change we are seeking to create. Imagine the benefits of a world in which generations of young people have the skills they need to thrive, face challenges with resilience and ultimately, suffer less from mental illness. By 2023, we aim to create this generational change in mental health across Australia.