ASLM Submission Calls for Lifestyle Medicine to Form the Foundation of Mental Health Education
The Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM) has proudly contributed to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s public consultation on the Emerging Mental Health Curriculum Framework.
In our submission, ASLM has recommended that Lifestyle Medicine (LM) should be embedded as the foundational approach to mental health education across all undergraduate health professions. This is in response to the growing evidence that modifiable lifestyle factors—such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management and social connection—are critical for both the prevention and treatment of mental illness.
Our recommendations reflect the 2023 WFSBP-ASLM Clinical Guidelines, which outline nine key lifestyle domains with strong evidence for improving mental health outcomes.
We believe the curriculum should:
- Build core competencies in LM and behaviour change counselling
- Incorporate trauma-informed and culturally safe care, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Embrace interdisciplinary models, including Shared Medical Appointments and social prescribing
- Equip students to work alongside carers, communities, and non-clinical support networks
- Provide practical, real-world learning aligned with whole-person care
We also acknowledged the growing use of group-based care and non-medical referral pathways as part of the broader shift toward integrated, community-informed mental health support.
Please note: This submission forms part of a public consultation and does not represent the views or position of the Australian Government. Final decisions will be made by the Department following the consultation period.
ASLM thanks our members, educators, and lived experience contributors who informed this submission. We look forward to continued collaboration as we work toward a health system where Lifestyle Medicine is core to mental health care—from education to practice.
Together, we’re preparing a future-ready, compassionate, and capable mental health workforce.