The importance of funding comprehensive youth mental health services is self-evident. Experts consistently tell us that all adult mental health problems first appear in adolescence. Like many of those experts, headspace - Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation - subscribes to the view that early intervention holds the most promise if we are serious about stemming the tide of mental health problems. It is no surprise then that headspace has been approached by other countries to help them replicate the headspace model.
Established in 2006, headspace now has 55 centres across Australia. By the end of 2016, that will rise to more than 100 locations. Crucially, half of these centres will be in rural and remote areas. The centres are supplemented by eheadspace (eheadspace.org.au) - a telephone, email and online counselling service - and a school support program designed to work with secondary schools to prevent suicide and provide support in the event of suicide.
Headspace is a one-stop shop model of care (covering general health, sexual health, drug and alcohol support, vocational and educational assistance, mental health counselling and support) designed to make it easier for young people aged 12 to 25 to get help.
The model creates a visible signpost in the community that is easily identified by young people and their families and that signals the availability of age-appropriate, evidence-based support. This visibility is critical to the success of headspace because many young people have difficulty accessing the right services. Often what should be the last resort becomes the first port of call, with many people turning to hospital emergency departments.
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Source material from Brisbane Times