Youth mental health on coalition's agenda

The federal government is looking at the next steps it should take to improve the mental health of young people, after boosting funding for support centres.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his government will continue to look for ways to improve the mental health of young Australians, after significantly boosting funding for support centres across the nation.

Mr Morrison revealed on Sunday the federal government will spend an extra $51.8 million on Headspace, which runs 107 youth mental health centres nation-wide.

The funds, which will be rolled out from this financial year, will help the centres employ more staff, reducing wait times.

About $12.8 million of the money will go towards Headspace's online counselling and treatment programs.

The funding windfall comes as about one in four young Australians experience mental illness each year.

Mr Morrison says Headspace is one of the most successful mental health initiatives in the country, and is changing young people's lives.

"Headspace isn't just about getting counselling services. It's everything from helping young people get a job to supporting their physical activity to improving their relationships," he told reporters in Adelaide on Sunday.

"It is dealing with the whole person."

The prime minister said his government will continue to look at what it can do in this space, taking advice from advocates such as Headspace founding director Patrick McGorry.

"In fact, we are meeting in Canberra (on Monday) to talk about where to from here," Mr Morrison said.

"That is what we will continue to do as a government in this space."

Prof McGorry has stressed young lives depend on such support.

"We have a lot more work to do, and this is another brick in the wall," he said.


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Published 15 October 2018 3:34am
Updated 22 February 2022 5:24pm
Source: AAP


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