In 2019, the Black Dog Institute launched the Future Proofing Study, which is now the largest and most comprehensive cohort study of adolescent mental health in Australia. The study was designed to advance knowledge about the risk and protective factors associated with the onset of adolescent depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, and to evaluate whether digital programs can prevent depression and anxiety when delivered in schools.

A total of 6,388 high school students from 134 Australian schools are participating, with cohort demographics representative of the Australian adolescent population. Students complete annual surveys covering a comprehensive range of topics, including mental health, wellbeing, quality of life, resilience, sleep, schooling, peer relationships, bullying, technology use, early life experiences, and puberty. Students commenced the study when they were in Year 8 and will continue to be followed up annually at school for 5 years.

This talk will present data from the baseline survey (mean age 13.9 years), focusing on current prevalence rates of mental health symptoms, self-harm, and suicidality in young adolescents, giving specific attention to marginalised and diverse groups such as LGBTQIA+ young people. This prevalence data is significant, as the last national survey of mental health in this age group was conducted nearly 10 years ago. This study is also the first, large-scale Australian study to examine the mental health of LGBTQIA+ youth, particularly in such a young sample.

Over the next five years, results from this study will be made available to inform policy for healthcare and education, and to shape the way prevention and early intervention programs are delivered for young people.