The Morrison Government is providing more than $1.2 million for headspace services in Cairns as part of its $26 million investment to ensure that young people can access mental health services where they need them and when they need them.
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch welcomed the funding which will ensure better social and health outcomes for young Australians in Cairns.
“headspace Cairns has been experiencing high demand for services and this funding will help them expand their services and improve access to high quality, youth friendly and mental health support,” Mr Entsch said.
“The funding will assist headspace Cairns engage a clinician for low intensity, brief intervention sessions and single session therapies, triage worker and group facilitator along with ICT systems upgrade and staff training and development.”
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt said one in four young Australians are affected by a mental illness every year.
“Many young people have also been substantially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it more important than ever to ensure access to youth mental health services,” Mr Hunt said.
“The funding reinforces our government’s strong commitment achieving better mental health for all Australians and will complement our record investment of $6.5 billion in mental health and suicide prevention services in 2021-22.”
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said headspace provides free or low-cost youth-friendly support in four key areas, mental health, related physical health, substance misuse, and social and vocational support.
“headspace offers a safe, welcoming place where young people can get non-judgmental professional help and peer support, so they can tackle their challenges in a way that is right for them,” Mr Coleman said.
The grants are part of the Morrison Government’s $152 million investment in the headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program, to reduce wait times and make capital improvements.
Over the next four years from 2021-22, the government is investing $873.2 million in the national headspace network, this includes $758.2 million for the establishment of new services ongoing service delivery and enhancement of existing services.
The Government continues to make mental health a national priority and provided a record $2.3 billion in the 2021-22 Budget for the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform of the mental health system.
Based on the principles of Prevention, Compassion and Care, the plan will ensure that high quality, person-centred care is available to all Australians, regardless of where they live.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through headspace (https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), Lifeline (13 11 14), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).
