About YMM

Young Minds Matter is the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

More than 6000 Australian families were selected randomly and interviewed as part of the Young Minds Matter survey, which looked at the emotional and behavioural development of children and young people aged between 4 and 17 years.

Young Minds Matter was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and conducted by the University of Western Australia (UWA) through the Telethon Kids Institute, in collaboration with Roy Morgan Research.

Young Minds Matter covered a range of topics relating to the health and wellbeing of young people in Australia.

Parent interview

The Young Minds Matter parent questionnaire was conducted by trained interviewers. It took on average about 75 minutes to complete. The questionnaire covered topics relating to both the survey family and the survey child. Topics included:

Survey child

• Education
• Health
• Thoughts, feelings and behaviours
• Bullying
• Use of services related to health and wellbeing

Family

• Family environment
• Parent health and wellbeing
• Household demographic information

Youth questionnaire

If the survey child was between 11 and 17 years old they were asked to complete a questionnaire on a tablet computer. This questionnaire took on average about 30 minutes to complete. The questionnaire covered:

• Thoughts, feelings and behaviours
• Health and self-esteem
• Family and school life
• Risky behaviours (young people 13 years and over only)
• Activities associated with positive mental health
• Use of technology

Survey data has been linked with data from the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS), Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) where consent was provided by survey participants.

Copies of the parent and youth questionnaires are available for download here.