Youth mental health funding gets crucial boost in Budget 2019

Scott Morrison will make suicide prevention a personal priority under a $736 million mental health plan outlined in the Budget.

Young people will get faster access to mental health services and the Prime Minister will make suicide prevention a personal priority under a $736 million mental health plan funded in the Budget.

As the nation’s suicide rate rises the government will spend $152 million to cut waiting times to access youth mental health care at 115 Headspace centres around the country.

And an additional 30 new Headspace centres will be opened including satellite services in Sarina and Whitsunday in Queensland.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison is making suicide prevention a personal priority. Picture: Getty Images

Young people will also get improved access to specialist mental health care with an extra $109.7 million to extend the Early Psychosis Youth Services.

This and other mental health funding included in the budget was announced by the government in a statement in February.

The suicide rate rose by over nine per cent between 2016 and 2017 with more than 3,000 Australians taking their own life.

In response Prime Minister Scott Morrison has created a Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator in his department to co-ordinate prevention activity across the whole of government.

The government says the causes of suicide are complex and extend beyond the health portfolio into social services and finances.

There is money to trial eight new mental health services for adults who need help after hours.

These centres will provide walk-in co-ordinated care for anyone.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is congratulated by Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison after delivering the Budget in the House of Representatives. Picture: Getty Images

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Expectant and new parents will get mental health care under a new Perinatal Health and Wellbeing Program that will help with postnatal depression, grief after the death of a baby and other mental problems connected to parenthood.

Children who experience trauma will get help from Grace’s Place a residential trauma recovery centre in NSW.

South Australia will get $5 million for a purpose built facility to treat people with eating disorders.

Athletes battling demons will get mental health care funded under a $54.1 million program.