Media Release                           Embargoed - Tuesday 8 January 2008

$945,000 AWARDED FOR NEW LOCAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE IN THE GOLD COAST

The CEO of Gold Coast Drug Council Inc, Mary Alcorn, today welcomed the commitment of Australian Government funding to establish a headspace youth service in the Gold Coast.

Ms Alcorn said a consortia of local health services known as headspace Gold Coast would receive $945,000 from headspace - the National Youth Mental Health Foundation - for the project.

“With this funding, the consortium will create a local headspace youth service from a network of local GPs, mental health, drug and alcohol and vocational support services,” Ms Alcorn said. Local partners include Gold Coast Drug Council Inc., Child & Youth Mental Health Service, Acute Young Adult Unit – Robina Hospital, Gold Coast Division of General Practice, Youth at Risk Alliance, Griffith University – School of Psychology.

“The result will be a health and mental health system in tune with the needs of young people with mental illness and one able to provide them with the variety of care they need.”

“Mental health is the number one health issue affecting young Australians today,” headspace National CEO Chris Tanti said. “One in four young people aged 12 to 25 will experience a mental health problem in any 12-month period and mental health issues are in the top three areas of concern as identified by young people themselves (Mission Australia Youth Survey 2007).” 

The Gold Coast continually records the second largest population increase in Australia. There are almost 100,000 young people from 10-24 years on the Gold Coast, with an expected 37% growth by 2021 – particularly in the Northern Corridor. The headspace Gold Coast consortium expect very high demand for services from the centre which is to be located in the Southport CBD. 

“The new headspace service promises to be a breakthrough for young people and their families in the Gold Coast who find themselves battling depression, anxiety, or other disorders,” Mary Alcorn said.

With its focus on providing free or low cost services to young people for mental health issues, now in 30 different locations across Australia, headspace is a world-first model where the community benefits. headspace CEO, Mr Chris Tanti contends that early, effective intervention, targeting young people aged 12 – 25 years should be a National priority and headspace is helping to make this happen.

“Our young people are our future; headspace believes they are a great investment. A strong focus on young people’s mental health has the capacity to generate greater personal, social and economic benefits than intervention at any other time in the lifespan,” said Chris Tanti.

“We know that it represents the best value for money for future reforms in the youth mental health area.”

National headspace CEO, Chris Tanti said the grant to headspace Gold Coast was one of 20 headspace grants totalling nearly $20 million, announced by the Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon today.

Local Media contact:             Julie Dignan, 07 5535 4302
headspace National office:  Karalee Evans, 0408 174 589