Political and community leaders joined with service providers and young people early last month to celebrate the opening of the new Headspace premises in Fremantle.
Headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, a Federal Government initiative that has helped to establish 30 centres across the country in an effort to improve the mental health and social wellbeing of 12-25 year-olds.
Billed as a one-stop-shop offering community-based health services specifically developed for young people, Fremantle Headspace provides free or low-cost help and support in areas such as health, mental health, education, work and drug and alcohol problems.
Fremantle Headspace Clinical Services Manager, Raff Di Bartolomeo says that early intervention is key for Headspace as young people with a predisposition for mental illness may be hit particularly hard when facing difficulties.
‘Someone might have been kicked out of home or they might have been bullied at school plus they might find out that have an issue with anxiety and depression- it’s that double whammy where people really get hit sometimes,’ he said.
‘Young people don’t necessarily have issues in isolation- there’s a whole gamut of issues they might come across from sexuality issues to issues around employment or around mental health issues, whatever is presenting for them.
‘(Headspace) is about having a service that can respond to that in any way, shape or form when young people come through the door.’
Headspace’s youth-friendly approach includes consulting both national and local youth reference groups on many aspects of the service.
‘I first became involved with Headspace because I loved the idea of a service for youth which insists on having young people involved with the planning, delivery and evaluation of service both nationally and locally,’ said Annabeth Bateman in her speech at the Fremantle Headspace launch.
A member of the Fremantle Headspace youth reference group, Bateman described how the service empowers young people by offering respect and teaching them life skills.
‘They give young people the opportunity to take ownership of the help they receive, a chance to advocate for themselves and their peers, to voice their opinions and share what’s important to them and know they are truly being heard,’ she said.
The young GLBT community has been strongly represented in the youth forums and events run by Headspace, with Di Bartolomeo saying sexuality issues are something the service deals with regularly.
‘Looking at GLBT youth, Headspace is really first and foremost about that idea that this is a safe place,’ he said.
Because of their focus on early intervention, young people need not wait until a time of crisis to contact Headspace and consult with one of their on-site GPs, social worker, psychologist or alcohol and drug counselor.
‘You could come in with as little as a sore toe!’ said Di Bartolomeo.
Check out the headspace website for a full list of services and events.
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Fremantle headspace
235 High Street Fremantle
Phone: 9335 6333
Email: info@frematleheadspace.org.au
Web: www.fremantleheadspace.com.au
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