What is headspace?
headspace is Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation. It provides a national, coordinated focus on youth mental health and related drug and alcohol problems in Australia and aims to improve access for young people aged 12-25 years to appropriate services and ensure better coordination between services.
headspace is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and operated by a consortium led by ORYGEN Research Centre at the University of Melbourne and includes the Australian General Practice Network, the Australian Psychological Society and the Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney.
Why is this important?
One in four young Australians will suffer from mental illness in any one year with three quarters of all mental health problems beginning before the age of 25. Mental health problems like depression and anxiety may also lead to serious alcohol and substance abuse problems when left untreated. Half of all young people with alcohol and substance abuse problems can directly attribute this to untreated or poorly treated mental health problems.
headspace recognises that more young people and members of the community need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use problems, and be knowledgeable, willing and confident about seeking help. The headspace Community Awareness program is implementing strategies that have an emphasis on improving early help seeking by young people with mental health and drug and alcohol problems.
Who benefits?
Young people aged 12-25 years, with or at risk of developing mental health problems, or who are showing early signs of mental health problems and associated drug and alcohol problems will benefit.
What will headspace deliver?
headspace: National Youth Mental Health Foundation will:
- provide a Centre of Excellence that promotes evidence-based practice in youth mental health services;
- foster community awareness of youth mental health issues to encourage young people to seek assistance early;
- increase the knowledge, understanding and skills of GPs and other service providers working with young people with mental health issues through the development and dissemination of evidence based education, training and resources; and
- support a local, integrated approach through the administration of the headspace Communities of Youth Service grant program, to enhance and facilitate the coordination of services for young people with or at risk of developing mental health problems, including those with associated drug and alcohol problems.
- The headspace Centre of Excellence role is to analyse recent research on youth mental health and drug and alcohol issues and to promote evidence-based practice in youth mental health.
- The headspace Service Provider Education and Training program is aimed at enhancing practitioners' skills in engagement and assessment, and the use of evidence based interventions appropriate for young people with mental health and substance use issues.
- The headspace Community Awareness program is implementing strategies that have an emphasis on improving early help seeking by young people with mental health and drug and alcohol problems.
headspace will support the primary care system, non-government sector and State and Territory Government services in the detection, early intervention and ongoing management of young people with mental health problems, including young people with complex mental health needs connected to substance use issues.
The initiative will improve access for young people to appropriate services and ensure better links and coordination between services for young people in their local areas. General Practitioners and allied health professionals will receive education and training with a youth focus to enhance the care provided to young people with or at risk of developing mental health problems and associated drug and alcohol problems.
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How does headspace work?
A headspace service, or Communities of Youth Services, is a youth friendly, community based health service for young people aged 12-25 years and their families. It is:
- a place where young people can receive help for a range of issues; health, education, work, mental health and drug and alcohol use;
- a confidential low cost or free service dependent on situation;
- a locally run initiative established by organisations that understand your community; and
- a place where young people and families are encouraged to become involved.
A total of $34.2 million has been provided by headspace for the establishment of 30 Communities of Youth Service platforms nationally, which will support holistic management of the mental health and substance use problems of young people, improve access to appropriate services and ensure better links and coordination between services for young people in their local area.
These sites bring together local youth mental health, drug and alcohol, primary care and education, training and support agencies and will improve access to a range of services for young people and ensure better coordination between these services.
What funding is attached to this initiative?
The Youth Mental Health Initiative was announced as part of the 2005/06 Federal Budget and committed $69 million to June 2009 to help young people with mental health disorders and associated drug and alcohol problems.
The cornerstone of this initiative is headspace: National Youth Mental Health Foundation which will receive $51.8 million to June 2009. This includes $34.2 million to establish a minimum of 30 Communities of Youth Service platforms nationally.
To complement headspace activity, $15 million has been allocated to the Youth Mental Health Initiative - Allied Health Workers program which will extend and enhance the range of services available at the Communities of Youth Service platforms. The funding provided enables young people aged 12-25 years to have access to the services of psychologists, drug and alcohol counsellors and other allied health professionals at the 30 newly established platforms across Australia.
When did headspace start?
headspace: National Youth Mental Health Foundation was officially launched in Sydney on 18 July 2006.
How is headspace progressing?
headspace has established 30 Communities of Youth Service platforms nationally, 18 of which are in rural or remote locations.
Round 1 grants were announced on 28 February 2007 and established the first 10 Communities of Youth Service platforms. Round 2 grants were announced on 8 January 2008 which establised the next 20 Communities of Youth Service platforms.
Further information
headspace: National Youth Mental Health Foundation - http://www.headspace.org.au.
Page currency, Latest update: 21 July, 2008