The federal government has decided not to provide funding for a headspace centre in the western Riverina that would help address the mental health problems for youth in the region.

 

“I am disappointed funds will not now come from the national youth mental health initiative,” said Mr Neil Barber, an expert in child and adolescent welfare based at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.

 

“However, it should now encourage the local community and service agencies in Griffith and other western Riverina communities to continue to develop their own collaborative service models to coordinate support for their young people, their families and professionals responding to youth health needs that contribute to the vulnerability of youth.”

 

Mr Barber helped develop the successful headspace program based in Wagga Wagga, and says that while headspace funding undoubtedly helps provide extra services, “the collaborative service works best when the network of services work out how vulnerable young people and their families currently seek help, and how they experience those services working together.

 

 “When we set up headspace in Wagga Wagga in 2008, we showed that the key agencies kept finding other connections with families and young people across the community that were not easy to find,” he said.

 

“For example, many services were sceptical about the role of general medical practitioners in youth health, except in acute cases. My research with Associate Professor Darryl Mayberry showed that many GPs were often consulted on issues of the emotional wellbeing of young people by parents, carers and young people themselves. However, they reported that they were not well connected into the wider range of welfare support services.

 

“Some young people also reported that they often preferred to seek help from workers based on their reputation as helpful and approachable, rather than by finding the officially responsible agency.”

 

Mr Barber contended the planning required to set up a collaborative network to address the mental health of youth can be undertaken without the major investment in setting up an agency.