Toward mentally healthy public policy on higher education: Opportunities for change amid national reform in Australia

In promoting mental wellbeing and preventing mental ill health at the population level, healthy public policy is key. Attention has specifically turned to ‘mentally healthy public policy’ – how public policy impacts population mental health and wellbeing, and how these impacts must be considered in policy decisions throughout government. In this article, I discuss current higher education policy reform in Australia – the Australian Universities Accord – as an opportunity to think differently about nationally coordinated, population-based efforts to promote mental wellbeing and prevent mental ill health. I propose an ecological model comprising three levels – system, sector, and setting – and discuss what could be done at each if assured a quantum of dedicated, prevention-oriented funding for higher education from a national budget. I conclude with a call to action – across universities, higher education peak bodies, government, and student and staff collectives – amid a window of opportunity in Australian public policy.