The Morrison Government is continuing its support for young people with severe and complex mental illness with an investment of $206.5 million ensuring that they have access to additional treatment services and support.
The funding will continue and expand the Early Psychosis Youth Services (EPYS) and builds on the $160.8 million already invested in Youth Enhanced Services (YES), which support young people experiencing severe and complex mental illness.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said Mental health and suicide prevention is one of the highest priorities of this Government.
“It is estimated that in any given year, one in four Australians aged 16–24 years will experience mental illness. Yet we know, thanks to the National Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey, that more than one in four young people (27.5 per cent) with moderate to severe mental health problems have not accessed any mental health services,” Mr Morrison said.
“It is critically important that we take active steps to help our young people maintain good mental health and provide for timely and appropriate care when they experience mental illness.”
The Morrison Government funds Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to commission EPYS and YES services.
The YES program enables PHNs to commission local services for young people experiencing severe and complex mental illness, while the EPYS supports vulnerable young Australians experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, psychosis.
Psychosis is a condition where individuals may experience a range of symptoms including false beliefs, hallucinations, confused thinking and changed behaviour. It can be triggered by a mental illness (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression), drug use or extreme stress. Two-thirds of people who have psychosis experienced their first episode before the age of 25.
The new funding for the EPYS program is expected to benefit more than 4,000 young people aged 12–25 years who are at ultra-high risk of, or currently experiencing, their first episode of psychosis.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said funding would support the establishment of two new hub sites in the ACT and Tasmania, meaning that the EPYS program will be present in every Australian state and territory.
“We are working closely with Orygen, to support the establishment of two new hub sites, ensuring young people in every Australian jurisdiction will be able to access the services they need, at a time when support is critical,” Minister Hunt said.
“Orygen will continue to receive Morrison Government funding to support PHNs with the commissioning and delivery of high quality, evidence-based services to young people through the EPYS and YES programs.
“There is also funding to continue the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, which is operated by Orygen, and provides important insights, national guidance and policy advice on youth mental health.”
The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health also creates opportunities for innovation in evidence-based services and intervention in youth mental health, such as the development and enhancement of the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) model, a specialised model of early intervention that is used by the EPYS program.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said there is also continued funding support for headspace National, one of Australia’s leading mental health organisations.
“headspace National supports an important part of the EPYS program, monitoring outcomes and the effectiveness of the program and collecting significant amounts of data,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
“We are providing a portion of this new investment to headspace National to ensure that this work continues, and that the data collected is the highest quality.
“This entire package of funding for the EPYS program delivers certainty to the youth mental health sector and the longer, 3-year funding cycle ensures continuity of care for the young people already engaging with the system.
“It will also ensure that each organisation involved in the delivery of EPYS can seek out and employ an engaged, highly-skilled and committed workforce, to deliver the highest quality of care.”
The new investment responds to recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health Report and findings of the EPYS program independent evaluation and grows the $110 million investment for the EPYS program provided in the 2019–20 Budget.
The Morrison Government has invested a historic $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan through the 2021-22 Budget to deliver significant reform of the mental health system and ensure that all Australians have access to high quality, person-centred care as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To date, health portfolio expenditure in mental health and suicide prevention services and supports in 2021–22 is at a record high of $6.5 billion.
Australians needing support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Wellbeing Support Service any time via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au
Anyone experiencing distress can also seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.
If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Young Australians needing support can access free services through Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), their local headspace or online through eheadspace (https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/).