The Liberal National Government will establish a new satellite headspace service in Emerald, to provide mental health services to young people in the region.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said young people in the local area face many challenges and this new service will provide a significant boost of support.
“There are more pressures on young people today than ever before and the establishment of this headspace is so important in providing needed services in our region,” Minister Hunt said.
“The need in Emerald has been impressed upon me by Ken O’Dowd and reinforced by the work of local mental health steering group in collecting 2500 signatures.”
“I am committed to ensuring young Australians can get information, advice, counselling or treatment, when and where they need it.”
“I want our young people to know they are not alone on their journey, and that headspace is there to deliver quality frontline support and coordinate the right interventions for people who are at risk,” Minister Hunt said.
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.
Federal Member for Flynn, Ken O’Dowd welcomed the announcement and said early intervention is absolutely critical to helping young people with mental health issues.
“It wasn’t that long ago that over 50 young people met with community leaders to discuss the need for more support for those facing mental health challenges.”
“The genuine commitment of these young people together with the support of the Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast PHN and headspace National added tremendous weight to my discussions with Minister Hunt.”
“The headspace network is at the heart of the Liberal National Government’s vision for youth mental health services and we are continuing to expand it,” Mr O’Dowd said.
It is estimated that one in five young Australians aged 16 to 24 experience mental illness in any given year.
Three quarters of all mental illness manifests in people under the age of 25 so intervention early in life and at an early stage of illness can reduce the duration and impact of mental illness.
The Liberal National Government is prioritising better mental health for all Australians with a record $4.7 billion expected to be spent on mental health this financial year alone.
The Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.