The Turnbull Government will establish a new headspace in Mandurah to provide mental health services to young people in the region.
Federal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie said young people in the local area faced many challenges and this new service would provide a significant boost of support.
“The establishment of a headspace in Mandurah is a victory for the people of our region,” Mr Hastie said.
“The challenges we face in youth mental health are significant, but the inclusion of a headspace within the Peel Youth Medical Service (PYMS) Health Hub will be an important part of the solution.”
“Early intervention is absolutely critical to helping young people with mental health issues and the Mandurah headspace will deliver front-line services and coordinate the right interventions for at risk young people.”
“Eleanor Britton and the team at GP Down South have collected over 3000 signatures in support of a headspace in Mandurah. It’s thanks to this groundswell of community support that our efforts have been successful.”
“Today’s announcement shows the federal government is listening and responding to the difficulties faced in the Peel region. I thank Minister for Health Greg Hunt for being so receptive to our calls for help,” Mr Hastie said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Mandurah was the third location in Australia to receive one of ten new headspace youth mental health services.
“I am committed to ensuring that Australians can get information, advice, counselling or treatment, when and where they need it,” Minister Hunt said.
“In particular I want to thank Andrew Hastie for his unwavering determination in building the case for the Mandurah headspace.”
“The Turnbull Government is investing an extra $28.9 million for ten new headspace services, in regional and rural communities, bringing the total number of centres to 110 by 2019.”
headspace offers early intervention for 12 to 25 year olds in four key areas – mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use.
Mandurah headspace will now begin a planning phase with services expected to be available within 12 months.
The Turnbull Government is committed to boosting mental health services with the 2017-18 Budget providing more than $170 million for mental health support, treatment and research.
This includes $80 million of additional funding, contingent on matched commitments from the states and territories, to maintain community psychosocial services for people with mental illness who do not qualify for assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
People living in rural and remote regions of Australia will now receive significantly improved access to psychologists, under a new $9.1 million telehealth initiative set to roll-out later this year.
(ENDS)