Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
A new youth mental health program for young people in Circular Head has been launched today, and it was fantastic to join local service providers and the community for the event.
Life Without Barriers will deliver the YouthARCH initiative, which will provide early intervention and low to moderate intensity mental health support for people aged 12 to 25 in the region.
This was an election commitment, and the Tasmanian Liberal Government has allocated $300,000 in the 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget, because we understand the importance of access to mental health support for children and young people.
Some mental health conditions can begin in adolescence and into young adulthood, so early intervention during this period is critical, and was identified as a need in the Circular Head community.
Taking an early intervention approach can stop or slow the onset and impact of mental ill-health and enable young people to build positive mental health and wellbeing.
Life Without Barriers is working to consolidate access to YouthARCH over the next fortnight and will take referrals from service providers and schools through a joint referral process from November 30.
The first year of the service will focus on meeting the needs of young people aged 12 to 18 years through strong engagement with schools and existing providers. It will offer one-to-one support from Smithton District Hospital and will also deliver services in a confidential manner in other appropriate community locations.
Life Without Barriers will increase the scope of the service in the second year to provide additional support, including opportunities to increase mental health literacy and resilience through group work and one-to-one support for those aged up to 25.
The new service has been welcomed by local providers, young people and families in the community.
The Tasmanian Government is delivering on a range of initiatives to support the wellbeing of children and young people, which is outlined in Tasmania's first Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy It Takes a Tasmanian Village, released in August, and the Rethink 2020 plan for mental health.
We are providing $41.2 million to fully fund the recommendations of the 2020 review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
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