Headspace Mandurah opens its doors

The member for Canning and WA Primary Health Alliance unveiled the new service.

Young people and their families living in the Mandurah region are now able to access vital mental health and wellbeing support with headspace Mandurah opening in Dower Street.

The new youth mental health service will operate from its temporary location before relocating to its permanent home within the Peel Health Hub that will see a range of health services housed under one roof. It is due to open towards the end of 2018.

Federal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie launched the service yesterday. He said headspace would play an important role in combatting youth mental health issues in Mandurah and the Peel region.

“Early intervention is vital to ensuring we protect at-risk young people in our community. Headspace Mandurah will help deliver the front-line services necessary to prevent young people going down a potentially dangerous path," he said. 

“The Mandurah Community rallied, and together we secured a headspace for our region. I commend everyone who added their name to the petitions. I also thank the Health Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt, for listening to Mandurah. 

“Headspace Mandurah will stand alongside other initiatives like the Peel Youth Medical Service Health Hub, which the federal government is helping deliver, and the Community Drug Action Forums I’ve been running around the region.” 

Prior to a Mandurah branch opening the closest headspace centres were in Rockingham and Bunbury. 

WA Primary Health Alliance late last year awarded a $1.3 million contract to operate the centre to 360 Health + Community, whose experience includes establishing and running two existing headspace centres in Fremantle and Rockingham.

WA Primary Health Alliance CEO Learne Durrington said 360 + Health and Community would deliver a great service for this region where youth mental health is such a priority, with more than 25 per cent of the population under 25.

“We know that young people aged 12 to 25 experience the highest rates of mental distress, yet seek help the least of all age groups. That’s why it’s so important for them to have youth friendly mental health services such as headspace,” she said. 

Research shows that 75 per cent of mental health issues emerge before the age of 25. Intervention at an early stage can reduce the duration and impact of mental health conditions.

Headspace offers early intervention services for 12 to 25-year-olds in four key areas: mental health, related physical health, alcohol and other drug use, and social and vocational support. 

360 Health + Community CEO Mark Slattery said they were privileged to be able to support the delivery of this service which puts young people front and centre in their own care.

“We’ve been working with our newly recruited headspace Mandurah Youth Reference Group to ensure the centre and service are youth friendly and welcoming," he said. 

“headspace Mandurah will work alongside headspace Fremantle and headspace Rockingham to ensure all young people across the southern region have access to collaborative youth friendly care, to help prevent young people falling through the gaps."

Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said headspace Mandurah would support and promote the mental health and wellbeing of young people in the region.

“It is testament to the vital work carried out by headspace as the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, and the confidence invested in our services, that the community rallied tirelessly for this centre,” he said. 

“This centre is for young people, and by young people, and we look forward to seeing this grow and develop in the community."

Young people can be referred by their GP, a mental health professional, or by self-referral. 

Young people who are concerned about their mental health or the mental health of their families or friends can also access the eheadspace service at www.eheadspace.org.au or on 1800 650 890.