Youth general mental health

Patient information

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The Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is a coordinated mental health service for young people aged 12-25, and their families.

What we do

We provide services for young people experiencing challenges with their mental or physical health, work or study, alcohol and other drugs, as well as young people experiencing psychosis.

Our team includes mental health clinicians (occupational therapists, social workers, nurses, psychologists, speech pathologists) and psychiatrists. You may also be able to access Youth Peer Workers or Family Peer Specialists who have their own experience of mental health challenges or have cared for someone who does.

Common concerns for young people include:

  • Feeling excessively anxious, worried, unhappy or shy
  • Changes in thinking, personality or behaviour that impact family, relationships, school or work
  • Difficulty controlling emotions and impulses
  • Distress from a traumatic incident or experience of abuse (either recent or in the past)
  • Trouble concentrating, thinking clearly or remembering things
  • Loss of enjoyment or motivation
  • Unusual experiences such as hearing voices, seeing strange things or things seeming different
  • Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
  • Where family or friends have expressed concern about personality or behavioural changes
  • Physical complaints that could be caused by emotional stress

Alfred Health is the lead agency for headspace Bentleigh, Elsternwick and Syndal. It also runs the headspace Early Psychosis program at five headspace centres in southeast Melbourne: Bentleigh, Elsternwick, Frankston, Narre Warren and Dandenong.

Who we care for

Young people (aged 12-25)

We provide services for young people and their families living in the following Local Government Areas:

  • Port Phillip, Stonnington and Glen Eira (north of North Road): Ages 0 to 25
  • Glen Eira (south of North Road), Bayside and Kingston (west of Boundary Road)*: Ages 0 to 18

* Monash Health provides services for over 18s in these Local Government Areas

How to access this service

Referral to this service

All referrals to the Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service are made using the online referral form, or by calling the Access Team. Referrals can be made by family or friends, as well as healthcare providers or other community services.

Resources

All patient resources
Beyond Blue
A guide to mental health problems and support available
headspace
Assisting young people and families to find the right help for problems affecting wellbeing
Online help at eheadspace
eheadspace provides a confidential online and telephone support service seven days a week
Raising Children Network
Provides free, reliable, up-to-date information to help your family grow and thrive together
Tandem
Representing family and friends supporting people living with mental health issues, Tandem provides information, advocacy, research and community awareness about caring for people experiencing mental ill-health.
Young Carers Network
The Young Carers Network (YCN) is a nationally coordinated online resource to raise young carer awareness, provide information, and direct young carers to appropriate pathways for support.
Children and Parents with Mental Illness
Resources and information to children, parents, family and friends and health professionals on how to respond to the needs of parents with mental illness
Kids Helpline
Mental health information and phone counselling
Rainbow Network
LGBTIQA+ information and resources
Reach Out
A website for getting young people through tough times
Sane Australia
An organisation helping all Australians affected by mental illness
The Orange Door
Providing referral and information support to families including family violence support. P: 1800 319 353
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In Case Of An Emergency, Call 000