Maria Vamvakinou MP

A new Headspace youth mental health service will open in Craigieburn to support young people dealing with depression, substance abuse and other mental health issues.Orygen Youth Health Research Centre was announced as the lead agency to deliver the service.Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou, welcomed the opening of headspace in the outer northern suburbs. “This will mean that young people in our community will get the right early interventions and support through headspace to give them a better future and help them fully participate in the social and economic life of our community,” Ms Vamvakinou said. “This new centre will provide information, promote early detection and offer holistic care tailored to young people in the areas of mental health, physical health, alcohol and drug use, and social and vocational support.”  Minister for Mental Health, Mark Butler said 92 per cent of young people using headspace centres in other parts of the country have reported improvements in their mental health after using headspace and same results were expected for the Craigieburn region. “This is one of 70 centres that will be up and running by the end of the year, providing care and support to young Australians, with a further 20 centres yet to be announced,” Minister Butler said. Orygen Youth Health Research Centre has partnered with a consortium of local service providers to ensure that headspace Craigieburn offers a full range of services to young people.  This initiative is  part of the  Government’s record $2.2 billion National Mental Health Reform Plan, additional funding of almost $200 million is also being invested to establish 90 headspace sites across the country. The lead agency was independently selected following an open Expression of Interest process by the headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation.

Details: www.headspace.org.au.