The commission's report into mental health calls on government to focus on children's wellbeing across education and health systems, as one of a suite of 21 recommendations.

Specific wellbeing targets, evidence-based, accredited wellbeing programs and requirements for schools to report on their progress were among the actions the report advised.

Read more: New initiative aims to improve responses to children's mental health issues

Bendigo Senior Secondary College principal Dale Pearce said better mental health could help students' educational achievement.

Mr Pearce said the Victorian education system already had a strong focus on wellbeing, which had been helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said many of the recommendations required a system level response.

Schools would need resources and training to implement the programs if they were incorporated into the curriculum, Mr Pearce said.

BSSC's challenge would be to incorporate anything into the curriculum directly, as students' picked their own subjects, Mr Pearce said.

"There's been a rising tide of mental health issues among young people. We know that that impacts on the ability of students to engage in their education and to be successful," he said"

"If Australia's young people were able to develop healthy minds and healthy bodies, then that is only going to be supportive of their engagement and their achievements in education."

OTHER NEWS:

Released on Monday, the Productivity Commission's report into mental health revealed mental illness costs the Australian economy about $220 billion each year.

That number was about one tenth of Australia's annual economic production in 2019.

The report's recommendation about the education system was part of a suite 21 made.

These included creating a person-centred mental health system, equipping workplaces to be mentally healthy, supporting social inclusion of people with mental illness and taking action to prevent suicide.

Another recommendation focused on improving housing and homelessness services.

The report stated the current capacity of these services fell "well short" of the need.

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