A new service in the South Eastern Melbourne region will provide multidisciplinary care and support to young people with, or at risk of, serious and complex mental illness.
The innovative BounceBack mental health service, launched last Friday, has been developed by South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network for 12 to 25 year olds.
It was designed over two years in close consultation with local youth, health professionals, Orygen’s National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and other stakeholders.
“More than 3.8 million Australians aged 16 to 85 experiences a mental illness each year. In most cases, the problem is relatively mild and short-lived,” Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP said. “For others though, mental illness is more serious and this often shows up as young people make the transition into adulthood.”
“It is very important that young people feel comfortable using a service like this. BounceBack will be culturally safe for all, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ, culturally and linguistically diverse, or homeless young people.
“South Eastern Melbourne has not previously had a service of this kind. It is a prime example of the improvements in mental health and suicide prevention being made by Primary Health Networks across Australia.
“Even the name, BounceBack, was chosen based on feedback from young people. It reflects the service’s positive focus on improving not just clinical health, but also their social and community connections.”
The services will be delivered from a range of locations, by the Youth Support and Advocacy Service across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, and EACH, in Dandenong-Kingston and Casey-Cardinia. It will also provide a mobile outreach service.
Multidisciplinary service elements will be matched to the individual’s needs, including case management, psychological interventions, psychiatry, care coordination and family and peer work.
Clients will also be linked to related services such as drug and alcohol treatment services and educational and vocation services where relevant.
The Australian Government has made better mental health a priority of our long term national health plan. This financial year, the Government will invest more than $4 billion in services and supports for people seeking mental health assistance.
Primary Health Networks are funded nearly $50 million in 2018-19 to deliver services to young people with, or at risk of, experiencing severe mental ill-health. The BounceBack service is one of the programs delivered through this funding.