Centre-based, local mental health services are critical for young people in Melbourne’s north, a new lobby group claims.
More than 30 education, health and welfare agencies, plus four councils including Whittlesea, have joined forces to call for federal funding for new headspace centres at South Morang and Greensborough.
The partnership includes Northern Hospital and Plenty Valley Community Health, the Whittlesea Schools Network, Whittlesea Youth Commitment and the Hume Whittlesea LLEN.
Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, which has more than 60 centres around the country.
North East headspace Partnership chair Clem Gillings said data showed one in four young people were affected by some form of mental illness.
“That equates to nearly 20,000 locally who may be in need right now,” Ms Gillings said.
“Early intervention, care and support can make all the difference, and the absence of services of this type in the north-east corridor is of significant concern to us.”
She said having the nearest headspace centre 45 to 95 minutes away by public transport made it even more difficult for young people in the area to get help and the new multi-agency partnership had widespread support and evidence to back its call for new headspace centres.
“Having a local headspace centre could genuinely provide much-needed help for young people with mild to moderate mental health issues in the area,” Ms Gillings said. “It will ensure a more timely response to referrals and provide a safe and trusted place for young people to receive the care they need.”
