By BRIDGET COOK
YOUTH mental health service ‘headspace’ will be working in schools across Casey and Cardinia to help tackle the problem of youth suicide.
Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge visited Hampton Park Youth Centre on Tuesday to announce that the State Government was taking its investment in specialist youth suicide prevention services in the area to almost $1 million with the launch of School Support Casey/Cardinia Community Initiative.
The funding will allow for two dedicated headspace clinicians to work with all 50 secondary schools and two TAFEs, with intensive support in 12 prioritised schools that have been significantly impacted by youth suicide in the past few years.
School communities will be provided with a range of services, including screening and well-being assessments, early intervention programs and clinical back-up, resilience programs for students and their families, and training for school staff.
Headspace School Support manager Lisa Kelly said as part of the initiative, with help from student well-being staff and mental health services, headspace clinicians will build capacity to identify young people at risk of suicide and will then provide clinical support or refer to an appropriate service.
“The aim of this project is to build on previous intervention seen in this community to enhance the resilience and build its capacity,” she said.
“By doing this the recovery of the young people and their families and the schools to provide long-term support is increased and risk is reduced.
“Providing suicide postvention strategies is vital in communities to lower the risk that exposure to suicide may have and to ensure recovery from such a tragic event.”
Ms Wooldridge said the headspace program would significantly add to other mental health activities in schools, all of which were being co-ordinated with the City of Casey Youth Suicide Steering Committee.
“This community is creating a model for communities across Victoria who may have concerns about the mental health of their young people, such as those affected by a high incidence of youth suicide or other challenges such as a natural disaster,” she said.
Ms Wooldridge said the State Government had already announced support for a dedicated worker to provide leadership for local suicide prevention activity in Casey and Cardinia.
“The Casey headspace co-ordinator is working closely with youth counsellors and Monash Health clinicians to assist a greater number of young people and school communities as part of an integrated response to enhance resilience among young people,” she said.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said the funding for headspace would complement the work the council and the Youth Suicide Steering Committee were already undertaking to respond to the high rates of suicides.
“The City of Casey has been experiencing significantly high rates of mental health issues among young people, and an associated high rate of suicide,” she said.
“The number of young people who have committed suicides in Casey is far greater than any other recorded instance.
“The council look forwards to extending our partnership with headspace and continuing the vital work that is required for positive youth mental health in the region.”
Clinical staff for the project are currently being recruited, with the initative to start in term two this year.
Those in need of assistance should call Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
