Outside of major illness or severe developmental problems, child mental health has not previously been a focus of much study. The West Australian Child Health Survey (WACHS) was one of the first surveys to specifically address mental health as part of an attempt to gain comprehensive data on child and adolescent health. During 1993, data were gathered from more than 1,400 families (including more than 2,700 children ages 4 to 16), as well and school principals and teachers. The study focused on a wide range of child health indices, but specifically identified mental health problems in children and adolescents, both to establish benchmarks against which to judge the efficacy of interventions, and with a view to informing policy and prevention. This paper discusses three specific aspects investigated by the study (parental disciplinary style, school staffing resources, and school environment) and the part they may play in explaining or alleviating the 17 percent mental health problem rate discovered by WACHS. The paper concludes with recommendations for improvement in the areas of family and school support. (EV)