Ten new headspace youth mental health facilities
Nicola Roxon
posted Saturday, 24 July 2010
Ten new youth mental health services will be established by a re-elected Gillard Labor Government within a year to help local young people cope with depression, substance abuse and other mental health issues.
The extra headspace sites have been chosen on advice from headspace, on the basis of community need.
The services are located in areas that headspace doesn’t currently reach, with priority given to areas experiencing social disadvantage or where factors such as youth suicide and substance abuse indicate a high need for improved youth mental health services.
The ten locations for new headspace facilities are:
- Parramatta (NSW)
- Shoalhaven (NSW)
- Bendigo (VIC)
- Collingwood (VIC)
- Brisbane South – Inala (QLD)
- Brisbane North – Nundah (QLD)
- Cairns (QLD)
- Hobart (TAS)
- Perth (WA)
- Noarlunga (SA)
Providing high quality mental health services and support to young people is critical as two thirds of all people with mental health problems experience their first symptoms before the age of 21.
headspace has a proven track record in helping young people with mental health issues. An independent evaluation of the headspace program found that 92 per cent of young people reported improvements in their mental health and reduced levels of psychological distress following involvement with the services.
Every one of these sites will quickly improve the access of local young people aged between 12 and 25 to mental health care and related drug and alcohol services.
A further 20 services will commence operating by mid-2013.
Funding for the expansion of headspace services around the country was included in the 2010-11 Budget.
The Gillard Government is committed to improving the availability and suitability of mental health services for young people.
The Government’s mental health reform package provides an additional $78.8 million over four years for youth mental health services. This will double the current number of headspace sites to around 60, as well as boost funding for the existing sites.
When all new sites are operational, an additional 20,000 young Australians each year will have access to mental health services.
The Government is also improving telephone and web-based support services for young people, expanding the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Program and funding 136 more mental health nurses to help thousands more Australians with mental health needs.
As part of the establishment of the National Health and Hospitals Network, the Gillard Government is building the foundations of the health system on which we can build better health services for Australians, including mental health services.
The investments we are making now are a down payment to address the immediate service gaps in mental health – and we agree that there is more to be done.
The Coalition want to fund their mental health spending by cutting health programs, including important funding to improve GP services and facilities in more than 400 communities, the GP after hours helpline and e-health records.
The Gillard Labor Government is improving health services, including mental health services, not cutting them.
Those with mental health needs rely on the entire health system, which is why this Government is reforming the health system to ensure it is able to provide better support and care.
For more information about the national headspace program, see http://www.headspace.org.au
Tags: Health, Health Reform, Mental Health, Roxon