The Federal Government will provide Mandurah with a new mental health service for young people following a spate of youth suicides in the region.
Federal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie said young people in the local area face many challenges and the new headspace service will provide a significant boost of support.
“The establishment of a headspace in Mandurah is a victory for the people of our region,” Mr Hastie said.
“The challenges we face in youth mental health are significant, but the inclusion of a headspace within the Peel Youth Medial Service (PYMS) Health Hub will be an important part of the solution.
“Early intervention is absolutely critical to helping young people with mental health issues and the Mandurah headspace will deliver front-line services and coordinate the right interventions for at risk young people,” Mr Hastie said.
“Eleanor Britton and the team at GP Down South have collected over 3000 signatures in support of a headspace in Mandurah. It’s thanks to this groundswell of community support that our efforts have been successful."
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Mandurah was the third location in Australia to receive one of ten new headspace youth mental health services.
“I am committed to ensuring that Australians can get information, advice, counselling or treatment, when and where they need it,” Minister Hunt said.
“In particular I want to thank Andrew Hastie for his unwavering determination in building the case for the Mandurah headspace.”
The Turnbull Government is investing an extra $28.9 million for ten new headspace services, in regional and rural communities, bringing the total number of centres to 110 by 2019.
Headspace offers early intervention for 12 to 25-year-olds in four key areas – mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use.
Mandurah headspace will now begin a planning phase with services expected to be available within 12 months.
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