THE Federal Government will invest a further $47m to continue to support the mental health of young Australians through headspace, during a new youth mental health ambassadors project and funding for its head office.
The organisation will receive $2m over four years to deliver the Young Ambassadors for Mental Health project, which sees eight young people with lived experience of mental health issues engage with the community.
Focusing on mental health issues, participants will engage with communities through a range of activities, including through a travelling roadshow, a youth summit, regional youth forums and online activities.
The ambassadors will promote mental health literacy, improve how people seek help, support young people’s capacity for self-care and help destigmatise mental health issues.
Funding of $45m will also be provided to headspace National – the coordinating agency behind the headspace network of services – to continue to support centres across the country.
The latest funding boost brings the total investment in headspace nationally to more than $208m since October last year.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the additional funding would allow headspace to continue to reduce stigma and mental illness and encourage young people to seek help.
“Since the Liberal Government established Headspace in 2006 it has become an integral part of ensuring young Australians have access to information, advice, understanding, counselling and treatment, when and where they need it,” he said.
“I have seen first-hand how important Headspace is to local young people.
“The additional funding our government is putting into this initiative is welcome news.”
