The federal government will spend an extra $50 million on youth mental health service Headspace.
Giving hope to young people who are experiencing mental illness is at the heart of a significant funding boost for support centres across Australia, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
The coalition has announced it will spend an extra $51.8 million on Headspace, which runs 107 youth mental health centres nation-wide.
The funds 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.
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 funding boost is also another example of the coalition’s efforts to generate hope in young Australians, he said.
“Whether it’s getting them support on mental health or getting them into a job because we’re running a strong economy…this is about giving young Australians hope.”
The extra funds are on top of the $95.7 million the government already spends on the centres each year.
Headspace chief executive Jason Trethowan said the new funds will be used to strengthen existing services, rather than create new ones.
But improving wait times for services will have an impact, he said.
“We don’t want young people to be waiting any longer than we need to,” he told reporters.
Mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry, one of Headspace’s founding directors, stressed young lives depend on such support.
“Headspace saves lives. It saves futures. It’s the main lever that we have in turning back the tide of mental ill health in young people,” he said.
About one in four young Australians experience mental illness each year.
