Headspace to expand Mt Barker service to full mental health centre
National youth mental health network Headspace will be given more than $2 million by the Federal Government to expand its services in the rapidly-growing Adelaide Hills.
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An expansion of the national network of youth mental health support provider Headspace will include a new centre in Mt Barker.
The organisation was handed $2.3 million in Tuesday’s Federal Budget to improve its services in the Adelaide Hills region.
The funding, to be provided over four years, will be used to upgrade its current service in Mt Barker to a full mental health centre.
Its existing small operation only provides a limited service.
Headspace – which offers both online, phone and in-person services – is the nation’s main youth-focused mental health service provider
It follows a $122 million pledge last year from the Federal Government to boost the number of mental health nurses provided by Country SA Primary Health Networks, including in Mt Barker.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the upgrade was part of a $630 million investment in the Headspace network that would result in the largest expansion of its services to date.
“This includes $534.4 million for the establishment of new services and ongoing service delivery at existing services and $96 million to address demand and reduce wait times to access headspace services,” Mr Hunt said.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said mental health and suicide prevention was a “national priority”, with the government’s national health spend to increase to $5.7 billion a year.