Campaign kicks off to get Monash Headspace mental health service

THE push is on for a desperately needed youth mental health service in Monash as many young people are forced to travel to seek help.

Headspace helps people aged 12 to 25 who are at risk or are experiencing mental health issues. Picture posed by models.

THE push is on for a desperately needed youth mental health service in Monash.

The Monash Leader has joined Monash Council and Link Health and Community to call on the Federal Government to open a Headspace mental health centre.

For the past three years the council and Link have been fighting for a mental health service as many youths are forced to seek clinical help in Box Hill, Dandenong or Moorabbin.

More than 2200 youth treated at Headspace Bentleigh and Elsternwick in 2015

Can We Talk? Funding cuts prompt fears of youth suicide rise

The Federal Government decided late last year to boost the number of centres by 10, to 110, by 2019.

Headspace is the federally funded national youth mental health foundation, helping people aged 12 to 25 who are at risk or are experiencing mental health issues.

Mayor Rebecca Paterson said mental health was the number one issue facing Monash youth.

“We are determined to have a Headspace facility in Monash and will continue to campaign fiercely until the Federal Government commits to it,” Cr Paterson said.

Link Health and Community general manager of community wellbeing Carmel Fox said it could house a Headspace at its proposed Haughton Rd social housing and mental health hub, but was not locked to a site.

“We hope the centralisation of a Headspace (centre) makes it easier for youth to get the services they need, in a more holistic approach,” Ms Fox said.

Headspace spokesman Michael Bennett said only the Commonwealth could decide where to put the centres.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was committed to en­suring mental health issues get the care they need.

Chisholm federal Liberal MP Julia Banks said mental health was “a high priority issue” and the government had asked primary health networks to identify the areas of highest need in their regions.