Mental health care for young Australians is set for a $51.8 million funding boost.
Federal Member for Flinders and Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, said the Government’s extra investment in the national network of headspace centres and the digital portal, eheadspace, means young people will have access to around 14,000 additional services nationally, shorter wait times and extra clinical staff.
“We want young people to know they are not alone on their journey, and that we’re backing quality frontline support,” Minister Hunt said.
“Our support for headspace gives young Australians a single entry point to friendly primary care that includes early intervention services and support for physical and mental wellbeing.”
Around 560,000 children and adolescents are estimated to have mental illness, and one in four young Australians experience it in any given year.
Minister Hunt said the Government understands the huge mental health challenge facing many Australians, particularly young Australians.
“We’re committed to ensuring that Australians can get information, advice, understanding, counselling and treatment, when and where they need it,” Minster Hunt said.
“Within our funding injection for headspace, $39 million will go towards services and staff while $12.8 million will ensure headspace National can continue to run eheadspace so young people can access support when they need it.”
“The additional investment is on top of the $95.7 million per year we have already committed to the 107 headspace centres running across the country.”
Headspace has increased the number of services it delivers from around 259,000 in 2014/15 to around 382,000 in 2017/18. Last year, approximately 33,800 young people accessed eheadspace.
“With an unprecedented $4.7 billion investment being made in mental health this year alone, our funding boost will help headspace meet the increasing demands for their services, today and in coming years,” Minister Hunt said.