Teens to have phone GPS, data monitored to track onset of mental health issues

“Adolescence is the peak time for the onset of mental health problems, which is why that is where our focus is,” Ms Maston said.

“If you give intervention before a large majority of young people will go on to develop mental health problems, you can essentially inoculate some of those young people from developing mental health problems at all.”

The study is recruiting participants from more than 174 high schools, mostly in NSW across the public, Catholic and independent sectors, for the so-called Future Proofing Study.

The information collected by the researchers is confidential except when there is disclosure of suicidal thoughts or self harm, when the school counsellor or parents would be notified.

The study had already recruited 400 then-year 8 students in 2019 and a further 1800 in 2020, while the bulk of the students would be recruited this year.

Ms Maston said the proportion of newly enrolled study participants expressing suicidal thoughts had almost doubled from 7 per cent in 2019 to 13 per cent in 2020 as the stress of the pandemic took its toll. Only half the students with suicidal thoughts were already known to the school counsellor.

“The research shows that speaking about and asking about suicidal thoughts and intentions does not increase suicidal behaviour,” Ms Maston said. “On the contrary, it actually shows a slight decrease in that sort of behaviour.”

Ms Maston said the information was held securely for seven days before it was released to the research team and de-identified. She noted participation in the study required the consent of parents and students and the student could turn off phone-tracking using the device settings without dropping out of the study overall.

Part of the study involves students actively participating by using apps to answer questions about their wellbeing, record their voice for analysis and play games designed to teach skills in problem-solving and managing emotions. Many schools taking part in the program plan to provide time during homeroom periods.

Fred Carmody, 13, in year 8 at Waverley College, is hoping for a better year, after the pandemic disrupted his schoolwork and hobbies such as surfing and Nippers championships last year.

Fred said he was in a good routine and hoping to maintain this and not fall behind. One of his biggest worries outside school is climate change, though he said some of his schoolmates were sceptical.

“When I’m older I don’t want the world to be different and when I have grandkids, I don’t want to be saying that ‘in my day it never used to be like this’,” he said.

One of the biggest worries for other students his age was peer pressure, he said.

Roisin Gibson, 13, from Hornsby is a year 8 student at Asquith. She has made good friends at school and her biggest hope for high school is to nurture those relationships.

“I’m pretty close with the people I’m with now and I’m really hoping to stay with that and grow our bond more,” Roisin said.

Her biggest worry is her schoolwork, while like Fred she is also very worried about the environment and climate change.