LORETTA RYAN, HOST: But as you mentioned, less than 60 days until the federal government flicks the switch on its social media ban for users under the age of 16. Keen to know from you if you're a parent, how you're going to manage this. Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells will this week hold discussions with senior officials from Meta, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok.
CRAIG ZONCA, HOST: And as all those finer details are mapped out on how this is going to work, there's fines that could be employed here of up to $50 million. But attention is turning to the impact on children themselves. How will they stay connected once disconnected?
RYAN: Yes, because they're so used to having this stuff with them, this social media, so now we're taking it away. What will happen?
ZONCA: Emma McBride is the federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and the Prevention of Suicide. Minister, good morning to you.
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Good to be with you.
ZONCA: Look, is there a concern about the impact that this ban is going to have on the mental health of young people?
MCBRIDE: It's something that we've thought deeply about. This is world-leading legislation and we've worked very closely with youth mental health organisations, with the eSafety Commissioner to make sure that we meet the objectives of making social media companies responsible for social harm, but at the same time keeping young people connected because we know that sometimes the most vulnerable young people are the ones that find the most connection and community online.
RYAN: So you say you've thought about it, but how will you tackle the threat of these mental health conditions?
MCBRIDE: One of the principal ways is through headspace, and many of your listeners would be familiar with headspace. It's our youth national program for young people aged 12 to 25 at risk of or experiencing mental ill health. And on headspace Day last week on 9 October, I announced an additional $72 million towards headspace to make sure that headspace services, which are seeing more young people seeking support, are resourced to better meet that need. And there'll be headspaces locally, including in Ipswich, Inala, Caboolture, Redcliffe, which will be beneficiaries of this boost in funding. We're also developing a new model of care called headspace Plus, because we know that young people are coming younger with more complex challenges. And headspace Plus is a new model of care to meet those changing needs of young people today.
RYAN: Yeah, I suppose it's stopping the problem though, the social media is going to be taken away from them. So is the idea for them to then seek help from somewhere if they're feeling disconnected?
MCBRIDE: It is, and we've worked very closely with the main youth mental health organisations across Australia – Batyr, Reach Out. I mentioned headspace, headspace has eheadspace. Because as I mentioned, young people find connection online and we need to make sure that we carve out the safe spaces where they find connection, while at the same time they're able to develop their identity offline, so that when they are then connected to these platforms, they're much more prepared for it and equipped to be able to navigate it safely.
ZONCA: It's going to be really interesting how this plays out for parents, for youngsters as well. We've heard of different ways that people might try to get around the ban. So there's a lot to happen in the next few months.
We're really focusing on mental health as part of this conversation this morning on 612 ABC Brisbane with Emma McBride, the federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health.
One thing that I'm hearing constantly is getting access to a psychologist or a psychiatrist, that it's so hard to find an appointment. Is that feedback getting back to you as a federal minister, Emma McBride?
MCBRIDE: This is something, and as you know, I'm a mental health worker by background and I worked in acute inpatient services and what I saw was that distress could then reach crisis point because there wasn't the support in the community, which is why we're also rolling out Medicare Mental Health Centres, and I'll be opening a new one in Redcliffe today where someone can walk in. They don't need an appointment. They don't need a referral. They can get information or advice. They can also get an appointment with a psychologist or a mental health social worker if that's the support they need. And importantly, they'll be met by a peer worker, and that has been one of the biggest hurdles to accessing mental health support and care. They'll be met by someone who's walked in their shoes and someone who can help them to navigate the systems of support and care to be connected with the right kind of care.
So as I mentioned, I'll be opening one in Redcliffe today. There's 13 already open across Queensland. We've expanded the rollout to 91 across the country because we need to make sure that everybody, wherever they live, is better connected to care. So we've now got perinatal mental health services through Gidget, new Kids Hubs for children 0 to 12, headspace for 12 to 25, and now these Medicare mental health Centres for anybody 18 plus. So we're trying to make a system of support and care that's stepped and has a continuum for people's needs.
ZONCA: Okay, so 18 plus, under 18, you're suggesting, you know, make use of their headspace facilities you mentioned earlier. With those Medicare mental health services, you go in today, will you see a psychologist today?
MCBRIDE: What you will see is a mental health worker.
ZONCA: Yeah, so a peer worker you talk about.
MCBRIDE: So you'll see a peer worker. In the centre in Redcliffe that I'm opening, they've got a psychologist. They've got a mental health social worker. So you'll be – the support will be tailored to your needs. So it might be that because of the type of distress you're experiencing is because of a relationship problem and maybe a social worker is best equipped to help you. Or it might be that it's a young person who is struggling with schools or their final exams. So it might be that a counsellor is best to support them. So the idea is to connect the person with the right kind of care and also in a wraparound way, so it might be a peer worker walking alongside them with a mental health clinician.
ZONCA: Okay, good to know. So that’s opening in Redcliffe today. There's a number of others around the state and here in South East Queensland that have already opened as well. Really appreciate your time this morning, Emma. Thanks for dropping by.
MCBRIDE: Good to be with you.
ZONCA: Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and the Prevention of Suicide, Emma McBride.