Gympie Headspace expands to new Duke St centre

Youth mental health care in the region has been given a major boost with more than 100 guests turning out celebrate Headspace’s new home.

Headspace Gympie Staff and members of the Youth Engagement Committee (YEC) celebrate the grand opening of the service’s new centre at Duke St.

Four years after launching in Gympie as a satellite service, Headspace now has a place to call home.

The youth mental health service celebrated its new premises on Thursday night at a grand opening which drew more than 100 guests.

The centre, located at Duke St, offers mental health, alcohol and drug, and work and study services to support to people from aged 12 to 25.

It opened as a satellite service in 2018.

Youturn CEO Dr Tanya Bell said the expansion from was the result of more than four years of effort.

“Our Centre expansion means that we are now able to increase our service delivery, by extending our operating hours and providing young people with at least 166 occasions of individualised, direct mental health support each month,” Dr Bell said.

“We are also able to increase our group work and workshops in our local community, to engage in increasing mental health literacy, reducing stigma, encouraging early help-seeking and promoting headspace services.”

(From left) Aunty Christine Stuart (elder), Mayor Glen Hartwig, Amanda Lenwright, Tim Lambert, Dr Tanya Bell, Heidi Walsh, and, Megan (no last name given) celebrate the grand opening of Headspace’s new Gympie centre at Duke St on the night of Thursday, April 27.

The expansion has allowed headspace to expand its services with through the hiring of a full-time youth engagement worker, and a social and emotional wellbeing worker.

The Slatter role is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identified position which helps support ATSI youth.

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Guests at the opening were able to tour the new facility and talk with its staff and members of the Youth Engagement Committee, who provide direct input into the centre.

Headspace national services executive director Tim Lambert said it was important Gympie’s youth had access to these services.

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“We know more than 75 per cent of mental health challenges can arise before the age of 25,” Mr Lambert said.

“This is why early intervention services such as headspace Gympie is so crucial in providing support to young people in the region who may be going through a tough time, to support them and to ensure they get back on track.

“Since headspace was established in 2006 over 500,000 young people have accessed support through headspace centres and through online and phone services.

“Headspace Gympie will play an important part within the headspace network as we continue to work towards extending our early intervention services to young people right across the country.”