HEADSPACE Mount Gambier has welcomed a major funding boost aimed at helping young Australians experiencing mental health issues access help more quickly.
The Federal Government announced it will spend $51.8m to meet the increasing demands for services across the 107 Headspace centres nationwide.
The funding injection includes $39m for services and staff, while $12.8m has been earmarked for Headspace’s online counselling service ‘eheadspace’ to enable young people access to support when they need it.
Headspace Mount Gambier centre manager Tasja Barelds said the additional investment in services was welcome given an increase in service demand since opening two years ago.
“We are excited about this announcement and as it is very fresh news, we do not have a lot of detail yet around where exactly the funds will go for our local centre,” she said.
“We would like to see some of the extra funding go towards addressing the demand for Headspace services.
“In the past financial year, Headspace Mount Gambier has provided more than 2600 sessions to local young people, which is an increase of more than 50pc in just 12 months to the previous year at over 1500 sessions.
“We see peaks of demand across the year, often mid-year and towards the end of the school year.”
Ms Barelds said the increase in service demand posed challenges in housing clinicians and managing peak appointment times.
She said another significant challenge was ensuring young people at the more severe range of mental illness received the services they needed within appropriate timeframes.
However, she said the benefit of the increase demonstrated young people “know they have a safe place to come and talk about whatever it is they are dealing with” and receive a professional and accessible service.
“We are yet to see where the funding will go as far as service development goes,” Ms Barelds said.
“However, we are encouraged by the government’s response to acknowledging the need for regional young people and their families by allocating extra health funds directed to Headspace centres.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the additional funds would deliver around 14,000 additional services, shorter wait times and extra clinical staff across the country.
“This funding boost will help Headspace meet the increasing demands for their services today and in coming years, including in the three Headspace centres in Barker – Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier and Berri,” he said.
“We are committed to ensuring Australians can get information, advice, understanding, counselling and treatment when and where they need it.
“Our support for Headspace gives young Australians a single entry point to friendly primary care that includes early intervention services and support for physical and mental wellbeing.”
The Mount Gambier-based site recently rolled out two additional services – a local and an Upper South East Youth Care and Coordination Program – which offer access to qualified coordinated clinical support for young people with severe mental illness.
The centre hase also engaged local accredited mental health practitioners offering face-to-face and digital support.
