Headspace Just Got A Shitload Of Cash From Government To Deal With Understaffing And Wait Times
One in four students will experience mental health issues in any given year.
$51.8 million will be put in the Headspace bank account next year in the hope that wait times, staff shortages and the quality of the youth mental health service can improve.
The one-off funding boost, which will be added on top of the $95.7 million the government contributes to Headspace annually, was announced today as PM Scott Morrison visited Adelaide.
“Headspace isn’t just about getting counselling services. It’s everything from helping young people get a job to supporting their physical activity to improving their relationships,” Morrison said. “Headspace reaches everywhere — it reaches out, they are a pro-active organisation, it’s an accessible, connectable symbol.”
The youth mental health service helps out 12-25 year olds, and has 107 centres across the country. The service emphasises the need for early intervention with mental illnesses.
“Research shows that 75 percent of mental health issues emerge before the age of 25,” Headspace’s website reads. “By treating these issues early and providing a holistic model of support, the risk of them developing into more serious problems is greatly decreased.”
Headspace advocate Ella Symonds said that the service helps people like her get back on track:
“Headspace helped me during a tough time in year 12 in high school. It allowed me to realise that I wanted to help people as well and I’m graduating uni in a month, and they helped me change my life for the better.”
Meet Samuel, Ella and Sean.
It's stories like theirs that are why our Government is delivering a stronger economy – so we can guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on and invest an extra $51.8 million into @headspace_aus. pic.twitter.com/iQtu8kM95H— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 14, 2018
Of the cash handout, $12.8 million will expand Headspace’s online counselling service and the rest will aim to reduce wait times and staff shortages at the in-person centres.
One in four students will experience mental health issues in any given year.