headspace: Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation — where young minds come first

Abstract

headspace, Australia's national youth mental health initiative, was created in 2006 in response to the recognition that the existing health system needed to be much more accessible and effective for young people with mental and substance use disorders. With funding of more than $54 million from the Australian Government, a carefully constructed and selected system of 30 “communities of youth services”, or integrated service hubs and networks, across the nation is being established, supported by programs for community awareness, workforce training and evidence‐based resource material. headspace aims to improve access, and service cohesion and quality, and ultimately health and social outcomes, for young people aged 12–25 years experiencing mental illness and related substance use problems. Within the Council of Australian Governments framework, this will require synergistic planning with, and co‐investment on behalf of, state and territory governments, as well as the support and involvement of local communities and the wider Australian society.

Adolescents and young adults who are not in employment, education, or training

“…The early phases of these disorders are characterised by impaired academic performance, change in social behaviours, and increasing absences from school or work. [7][8][9] Because functional decline often precedes the appearance of overt clinical symptoms, many young people may become economically inactive before their illness is recognised. 4…”

“…Early identification of underlying mental disorders is important, [7][8][9] and is a policy objective in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Youth friendly health service models-such as "headspace" in Australia, "headstrong" in Ireland, and "youthspace" in the UK-increase levels of engagement in economically inactive young people who present with common mental health problems.…”

Frontal lobe changes occur early in the course of affective disorders in young people

“…It attempts to identify closer links between early clinical phenotypes and discrete pathways to illness [14,15]. Young help seeking individuals with mixed symptoms are typically closer to their illness onset than middle-aged adults with discrete disorders.…”

Paediatricians and psychiatrists working together: what works best?

“…There has been a push in some parts of the world to develop Youth Mental Health services separate to CAMHS42 that are co-located with other medical and social services. Such arrangements are likely to improve accessibility and decrease stigma.…”