Improved Services for Young People with Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Problems
Young people aged 12 and over with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drug conditions will benefit from a project researching improved services and pathways of care in South Australia’s northern suburbs.
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Previous MinistersJoint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
The Hon Senator Kim CARR
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
25 February 2011
Young people aged 12 and over with comorbidity (co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drug conditions) will benefit from a project researching improved services and pathways of care in South Australia’s northern suburbs.
The University of Adelaide has been awarded a $275,820 Australian Research Council Linkage Projects grants for a project entitled ‘Stopping the run-around: comorbidity action in the north’ (CAN).
The project, which will be conducted in the Salisbury and Playford area, will examine difficulties clients with mental health, drug and alcohol conditions have accessing services.
Speaking at the CAN launch on Friday, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler said the Australian Government is committed to improving services for people with a mental illness right across the spectrum.
“Mental illness is widespread with one in five Australians experiencing one of the common forms of a mental illness in any given year,” Mr Butler said.
“Good mental health is a crucial aspect of good general health and underpins a productive and inclusive society, which is why the Prime Minister identified mental health as a priority area for reform.
“While there is clearly more to be done, good foundations for mental health services reform have been laid down in recent years through growth of services in the community and in primary care."
Reducing risk-taking behaviours through the National Drugs Campaign and National Binge Drinking Strategy were also important to maintain good health in young people.
Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the critical research and partnerships enabled by the Linkage Projects grant will help find solutions to address this important national issue.
“Up to 70 per cent of people with co-existing mental health and drug or alcohol conditions make up the client group of either mental health or drug and alcohol services, yet this group can find it difficult to have all their needs met in one service,” Senator Carr said.
"I am pleased the Government can help address this issue through the funding of high-quality research, such as this CAN project."
The Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects Scheme supports partnerships between researchers, industry and other parts of the national innovation system, to acquire new knowledge through innovation.
Minister Butler’s Office: 02 6277 7220
Further Information
- The CAN project team includes the University of Adelaide, the Adelaide Health Service, the Adelaide Northern Division of General Practice, the Aboriginal Health Council of SA, the University of South Australia and the SA Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS).
- The Australian Government funds a range of youth mental health initiatives including headspace.
- The Government is expanding investment in child and youth mental through measures announced in the 2010 Budget and includes the $274 million ‘Taking Action to Tackle Suicide’ package.
- The Government is committed to improving options for people seeking treatment for drug and alcohol problems and provides funding to over 200 non-government organisations nationally under the Improved Services Initiative and the Non-Government Organisation Treatment Grants Program. Collectively, funding for these two programs totals approximately $60 million per annum.
- The Government targeted children and youth mental health initiatives in the 2010 Budget and election commitments, including $78.8 million for more youth-friendly services, $18.4 million for the Kids Matter Expansion, $21.6 million for services for children with mental health and development issues, and $21.3 million to expand online mental health and counselling services.
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