headspace is Australia's National Youth Mental
Health Foundation. The headspace mission is to deliver improvements
in the mental health, social wellbeing and economic participation
of young Australians aged 12-25. To this end, headspace aims to be
the focal point for youth mental health issues across the country.
This includes providing funding to improve services for young
people who may be experiencing mental health and/or drug and
alcohol issues and the latest information about these important
health issues for young people.
headspace services have been designed for young people so that
they should feel at home when they visit a centre. All headspace
services will have a range of different workers and programs for
young people. These may include: GPs, psychologists, alcohol and
other drug workers, as well as education and employment
programs.
headspace is aiming to achieve this through the 30 funded
headspace services located in each state and territory across
Australia. These services provide an entry point for young people
to access a broad range of services which are available in their
local community. All of whom have a focus on providing a more
integrated service responses.
What to expect
- Youth friendly, community based health service for young people
12 - 25 and their families
- A place where young people can receive help for a range of
issues; health, education, work, mental health and drug and alcohol
use
- Staffed by General Practitioners, Allied Health, Mental health,
Youth workers and Drug and Alcohol workers who have specific
expertise in working with young people
- A confidential low cost or free service dependent on
situation
- A locally run initiative established by organisations that
understand your community
- A place where young people and families are encouraged to
become involved
How to access a headspace service
Young people can phone and make an appointment or they can
usually drop in. They can also be referred by you, the health care
professional, but headspace staff will need to talk with the young
person as part of the referral.
The intake officer or duty worker will ask a range of questions
from you and/or the young person to find out more about the
situation before directing the young person to the right person, or
recommending the best help available at the headspace service.
A young person can call anonymously to find out more
information, and can call to find out information on behalf of a
friend. Health care professionals can also call a headspace centre
on behalf of a young person to find out more information and what
to expect.
A good place to start is the headspace website which can be
accessed at: http://www.headspace.org.au