Productivity Commission submission: youth mental health key to Australia’s economic success

headspace has made a joint submission with Orygen Youth Mental Health  to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health to demonstrate the importance of youth mental health for the nation’s economic success.

In the joint submission, headspace and Orygen have called on the Australian Government to widen and deepen youth mental health support to ensure that Australia reaches its economic potential.

The submission’s 17 recommendations aim to improve young people’s mental health, support social and economic participation, and enhance productivity and economic growth, and span five key priority areas:

1. Increase access to effective mental health services and supports for young people across all stages of mental ill-health
2. Improve education and workforce participation for young people with mental illness
3. Reduce self-harm and suicide-related behaviours in young people 
4. Build a youth mental health workforce to meet the current and future needs
5. Drive improvements through research, data, and outcome monitoring

To read the full submission visit: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/mental-health/submissions

View our media release here. 

Please note, Jason Trethowan, CEO at headspace and Professor Patrick McGorry, Executive Director at Orygen are available for interview to discuss the submission.