beyondblue partners with headspace & Early Childhood Australia

For the full media release, please visit the beyondblue website by clicking here. 

The Minister for Health, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, today announced a grant of $52.6 million over two years to beyondblue for a new mental health in education program. beyondblue will begin the first stage of developing and designing the ground-breaking initiative from July 1, 2017.

The initiative will be launched to early learning services, primary and secondary schools in partnership with Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, in 2018.

With research showing one in seven Australian children has had a mental health disorder in the past 12 months beyondblue has described the program as a game-changer that would replace the current fragmented approach with a wholly integrated one.

beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman added: “We will build on the best bits of existing Commonwealth programs, but give early childhood services and school communities a contemporary program that reflects the world in which they operate. It will deal with the gamut of issues, from educating staff about mental health and how to protect themselves, to supporting schools to implement their own strategies for mental health, wellbeing, suicide prevention and crisis support.”

In leading this initiative beyondblue, welcomed the opportunity to work with delivery partners ECA and headspace.

ECA chief executive Samantha Page said it was critical to involve early learning in the program as it provides a window of opportunity for early intervention and prevention.

“Early childhood is when social skills, emotional skills and cognitive skills are developing, laying the foundations for mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Page said. “This, in turn, influences a child’s ability to make successful life transitions, and to learn and progress at school.”

Jason Trethowan, CEO of headspace said the new program would help improve student understanding of mental health and continue to support school communities impacted by youth suicide. “Supporting schools to build the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is crucial to stem the rising tide of mental health difficulties facing young Australians.” Mr Trethowan said.

Contact: beyondblue
Carly Crawford (03) 9810 6137
carly.crawford@beyondblue.org.au
Carmel Egan (03) 9810 6187 / 0476 803 991