Media Release 28 Feb 2007
$1.5 MILLION FOR NEW APPROACH TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN THE ILLAWARRA
The CEO of the Illawarra Division of General Practice, Dr Andrew Dalley, today welcomed the commitment of Australian Government funding to establish a headspace youth service in the Illawarra
Dr Dalley said a consortium of local health services known as headspace Illawarra would receive $1.5 million from the new National Youth Mental Health Foundation for the project.
“With this funding, the consortium will create a local headspace youth service from a network of local GPs, mental health, drug and alcohol, vocational support services and other youth services,” Dr Dalley said. Illawarra Division of General Practice is the lead organisation and local partners include Southern Youth and Family Services, Wollongong Crisis Centre, NSW Department of Education and Training, University of Wollongong Graduate School of Medicine, the Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, Lifeline South Coast, ARAFMI, Youth and Adults Mental Health Action Group, Prime, Wave FM, Salvation Army and the Illawarra Legal Centre
“The result will be a health and mental health system in tune with the needs of young people with mental illness and one able to provide them with the variety of care they need.”
“Mental health is a major health concern for young people in this region and around the nation, but young people in mental distress often find it very difficult to seek help or to find it”, said headspace National CEO Chris Tanti.
Illawarra young people have a high suicide rate particularly affecting older teenagers, as well as high rates of youth unemployment associated with drug and alcohol overuse.
“The new headspace service promises to be a breakthrough for young people and their families in the Illawarra who find themselves battling depression, anxiety, or other disorders,” Dr Dalley said.
Headspace Illawarra will include a youth only general practice offering on-site psychology and lifestyle services backed up by a large consortium of local youth service providers. It will penetrate into schools and to parents as well as providing improved education for GPs about the special needs of young people.
Established as part of the Government’s 2005-06 Youth Mental Health Budget initiative, headspace aims to improve mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25 years in metropolitan, regional and remote areas.
National headspace CEO, Chris Tanti said the grant to the Illawarra consortium was one of 31 headspace grants totalling $15 million, announced by the Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne.
Chairman of the Illawarra Division of General Practice, Dr John McAlpine, is available for photo opportunities on site this afternoon.
Local Media contact: Kellie Marshall 4226 7052
headspace National office: Maree Sidey 0417 385 208
