Young people in Gippsland will benefit from a $47 million Federal Government funding boost for youth mental health.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester welcomed the additional funding for Headspace to build services and deliver a new youth mental health project to support the wellbeing of young Gippslanders.
“Sadly, one in four young people aged 16 to 24 experience mental illness in any given year. Early intervention and treatment can reduce the duration and impact of mental illness,” Mr Chester said.
“We need people to be aware that support is available when they are going through difficult times in their lives.”
Mr Chester said this funding will focus on ensuring young Australians can get information, advice, understanding, counselling and treatment when and where they need it.
“The Government is guaranteeing a stable future for Headspace centres by expanding the role of Headspace National in providing support to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) with commissioning of Headspace services throughout Australia,” Mr Chester said.
“The Federal Government understands the need to support young people living with a mental health condition and this funding builds on funding already provided to Headspace.”
Within the $47 million funding announcement, $45 million will go toward building support services while $2 million will be used to deliver the Young Ambassadors for Mental Health project. This funding comes on top of the $51.8 million to Headspace centres and eHeadspace announced in October last year.
In March 2017, the Federal Government provided $1.2 million towards the establishment of a new Headspace centre in Bairnsdale to provide early intervention for 12 to 25 year olds.
Headspace operates a centre in Morwell and Bairnsdale to support young people in Gippsland with mental health challenges.
