By Jed Lanyon
The federal government will invest $4.5 million over three years to support the mental health of young Australians in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
The funding will help establish an integrated Youth Health Hub, which will include a headspace service, through the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network.
The hub will bring together local existing services, making it easier for young people in the area to access vital mental health and general health services.
Member for Casey, Tony Smith announced the funding at the Yarra Ranges Council and welcomed the establishment of a joint Youth Health Hub and headspace service.
“This announcement will help address the growing needs around youth mental health in our area where almost a third of the population is under 20 years old.”
“A Youth Health Hub and headspace in Lilydale will deliver more health care resources for the Casey electorate and importantly, lead to improved service co-ordination.”
“I will be working with Yarra Ranges Council and other community organisations to ensure a suitable site for the hub is found quickly,” Mr Smith said.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said that young people in the local area face many challenges and these new services will provide a significant boost of support.
“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,” Mr Hunt said.
Around 560,000 Australian children and adolescents are estimated to have a mental illness and one in four young Australians aged 16 to 24 experience mental illness in any given year.
