Comparing the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students at Mainstream Schools, Alternative (Flexi) Schools and Unemployed School-Aged Youth

Abstract

Most Australian young people attend a mainstream school. However, some are excluded from or cannot cope with mainstream schooling for various reasons and leave prematurely. These young people could work, attend an alternative flexi school or do neither. If they do not attend any schooling and are unemployed, they may become vulnerable to various current and future adverse life outcomes, including poor mental health. For mainstream secondary school students, school connection is a protective factor for their mental health and wellbeing. However, the state of the mental health and wellbeing of alternative flexi school students or young people who do not attend school or work is unknown. The current study therefore compared these three groups with a survey on their mental health and wellbeing. Students attending two alternative flexi schools and a youth support service, which help students who are not at school or work, were randomly selected to participate. The Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth data set was used to measure the mental health and wellbeing of mainstream school students. Results revealed there were no significant differences between the mental health and wellbeing of the two cohorts who were not in mainstream school; however, their mental health and wellbeing were not as robust as those who were attending mainstream schooling.KeywordsAlternative flexi schoolYoung peopleUnemployedMainstream schoolStudentMental healthWellbeing