Mental health care for young Australians is set for a $51.8 million funding boost.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said that the Liberal National Government’s extra investment in the national network of headspace centres and the digital portal, eheadspace, means young people will have access to around 14,000 additional services, shorter wait times and extra clinical staff.

“Our Government understands the huge mental health challenge facing many Australians, particularly young Australians,” Mr Pasin said.

Around 560,000 children and adolescents are estimated to have mental illness, and one in four young Australians experience it in any given year.

“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 funding injection for headspace  includes $39 million for services and staff while $12.8 million will ensure headspace National can continue to run eheadspace so young people can access support when they need it.

The additional investment is on top of the $95.7 million per year we have already committed to the 107 headspace centres running across the country.

Headspace has increased the number of services it delivers from around 259,000 in 2014/15 to around 382,000 in 2017/18. Last year, approximately 33,800 young people accessed eheadspace.

“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; Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier and Berri.”

“We’re committed to ensuring that Australians can get information, advice, understanding, counselling and treatment, when and where they need it,” said Mr Pasin.

“Our plan for a stronger economy means we can guarantee essential services like mental health support, with an unprecedented $4.7 billion investment being made in mental health this year alone.”

 

 

Contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8531 2466