headspace welcomes commitment to mental health in NSW budget

National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, has welcomed the NSW Government's budget announcement of $11.4 million to help young people engage in the areas of education, training and employment.

National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, has welcomed the NSW Government's budget announcement of $11.4 million to help young people engage in the areas of education, training and employment.

headspace CEO Chris Tanti said: "Young people - and young men in particular - are significantly affected by a lack of meaningful vocation or employment. It's great to see the Government addressing key risk factors like unemployment which lead to economic and social exclusion."

Research has shown that unemployed youth can become isolated and marginalised from society. Young men not in the labour force have been found to have a mortality rate 8.6 times higher than their employed or student male counterparts.

"An effective mental health policy addresses mental health needs, by placing a value on access to primary health, drug and alcohol services, educational and vocational support. All these measures combined maximise participation within the community and minimise isolation" said Mr Tanti.

The Government's $11.4 million 'job-readiness' package includes $5.5 million for pre-vocational training for 2,000 unemployed young people, $3.9 million to fund employment advisors and $2 million to support local community programs which engage young people in sports and cultural development activities.

The government also announced $1.2 billion for mental health services.

Mr Tanti said "Whilst we applaud the Government's commitment to mental health, there's little investment in early intervention services. Governments need to focus more attention on prevention and need to be mindful of the myriad of ways mental health can affect people and the pressure this places on our already overstretched healthsystems. Over the short and long term, early intervention in the lives of young adults who may be vulnerable to mental health problems is the only way to relieve this pressure."

headspace has 30 centres in both regional and metropolitan Australia that offer health advice, support and information for young people. A headspace centre is a youth-friendly place where young people can seek help and confidential services which are low cost or free.

For more information about the headspace centres in NSW, please visit headspace.org.au

headspace media contact:

Briony Walker
Mob 0402 399 746
Email bwalker@headspace.org.au