Matterworks’ Founders: Meeting Young People Where They Are Is Key To Mental Health Literacy

With a worryingly high number of mental health issues among young people, how to address it has been an issue both the government and organisations are looking to tackle. With discussions around an under-16 social media ban in Australia ongoing, Kylie Robertson and Sarah Wyse, founders of Matterworks, a digital health media business, have taken a different approach, addressing mental health through social media-style content, distributed through schools, podcast content and TV programs.

B&T sat down with Roberston and Wyse to ask about the results from Matterworks’ Decode program. The program was found to increase mental health literacy in schools and reduce the stigma of talking about it. Decode is powered by evidence-based research from MCRI and engages students through social media-style content and lived experience influencers.

B&T: What has it been like seeing the results from the Decode program?

Kylie Robertson: Seeing the results from the Decode program has been incredibly rewarding. It’s proof that when we connect with young people on their level—using engaging, relatable content—we can make a real impact. Hearing about students gaining confidence in talking about their mental health, understanding their emotions, and knowing where to seek help shows the program’s value. It’s also been encouraging to see teachers feel more equipped to support their students. For Matterworks, it reinforces the importance of blending our media and entertainment experience with evidence-based health education to tackle complex topics like mental health in a way that truly resonates.

B&T: How did you come to launch Decode, and what else can we expect to see from Matterworks in the future?

Sarah Wyse: Decode has been developed and delivered by Matterworks in partnership with EdTech company Education Perfect and informed by researchers from MCRI. Launched in response to rising post-COVID youth mental health concerns, Kylie and I combined our 20+ years of media and entertainment experience with leading mental health research to develop a program that empowers students and teachers with mental health literacy, fostering stigma-free conversations in classrooms.

At Matterworks, we’re just getting started. We’re developing innovative products that transform digital-native behaviours into engaging health education products. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians through impactful partnerships with research institutes, educational organisations, and community-focused initiatives.

B&T: How do you think social media can be a vessel for good?

KR: Social media is deeply ingrained in young people’s lives, shaping how they connect and communicate. At Matterworks, we are focused on understanding why these platforms resonate—what makes them so compelling and impactful? By analysing their trends and behaviours, we adapt these insights to create educational experiences that truly engage young minds in trusted environments like schools. As technology and digital habits evolve, our content evolves with them, ensuring we continue to connect with young people on their level and drive meaningful change.

Given the unsafe nature of some platforms, we’ve chosen not to distribute content directly through these channels. Instead, we work with trusted partners—educators, schools, and organisations—who are deeply connected to young people. This ensures our evidence-based content reaches them safely and effectively. However, we would warmly welcome conversations with social platforms committed to positively influencing young people with life-changing health information.

B&T: What is the importance of meeting young people where they are?

SW: We’ve seen first-hand through Decode that connecting with young people on their level impacts engagement and learning. It’s about understanding the spaces they naturally occupy, the ways they connect, and the language they use. By aligning with their realities, we can foster trust, relevance, and genuine impact. In schools, this means delivering mental health learning in a way that feels more peer-to-peer. It’s about creating content students can see themselves reflected in and that resonates with their personal digital experiences. This approach ensures that important messages, like mental health and wellbeing, cut through and empower young people in ways that feel authentic and accessible.

B&T: Why is mental health literacy so important?

KR: Mental health literacy is critical because it equips people with the knowledge and skills to recognise, manage, and prevent mental health challenges. For young people, it reduces stigma, fosters empathy, and promotes early intervention by teaching them how to seek help for themselves or support others. Programs like Decode demonstrate that improving mental health literacy in schools leads to better emotional understanding, stronger relationships, and the confidence to address mental health challenges effectively. By integrating peer-to-peer style evidence-based education, we can empower young people to build resilience, foster inclusion, and improve overall wellbeing.

B&T: Why have teachers found it difficult to talk about with students? What are the main barriers?

SW: In our focus groups and consultations with Education Perfect, it became clear that many educators lacked the confidence to address these topics in the classroom. This stemmed from gaps in understanding of mental health concepts and concerns about saying the wrong thing or not handling sensitive discussions appropriately.

To address these barriers, we developed a podcast-led professional development program as part of Decode. This program helps educators deepen their knowledge, build confidence, and gain practical tools to navigate mental health discussions with their students.