The Mighty Minds study explored how The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) can best support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people with disability and chronic health conditions. We partnered with children and young people, and parents and caregivers with lived experience through all the stages of the research project.

We surveyed and interviewed children and young people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, parents and caregivers, and clinicians, to find out what they thought would help promote their mental health and wellbeing care and support through The RCH.

The Mighty Minds Study developed five priority areas with recommendations for improving access to mental health-informed care for children and young people with disability and chronic health conditions and their families. Mighty Minds is now seeking funding to move these recommendations into practice.

This project was funded by Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy (via the RCH Foundation) and led by Professor Rebecca Giallo from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Deakin University. The project was a collaboration between MCRI and Healthy Trajectories at the University of Melbourne and the Mighty Minds Lived Experience Advisory Groups.