Funding boost for youth mental health

The extra funding means the specialised outreach service, which provides care and support to some of our most vulnerable young Victorians, will be able to support an additional 126 young people each year.

The Victorian Minister for Mental Health James Merlino made the announcement while visiting The Alfred’s Child and Youth Mental Health Service. It is part of a $16.3 million increase for similar programs across the State.

“This is a profound investment in young Victorians with complex needs – with outreach support to make sure nobody falls through the cracks of our mental health system, no matter what their life circumstances,” Minister Merlino said.

Alfred Child and Youth Mental Health Service Clinical Director Dr Paul Denborough said the outreach program helps some of the service’s most vulnerable young people.

“It’s a powerful message to be able to say we are going to come to you,” Dr Denborough said. “We see people in their homes or in any environment they choose.  Expanding this program from helping 80 young people, to more than 200 each year, will make a big difference.”

Alfred Health Eating Disorder Project Lead, and carer, Helen Searle shared her excitement about the funding boost.

“Another 126 people means we are helping another 126 families. I’ve been one of those families so, for me, every extra one we can support is a huge thing,” Ms Searle said.

Senior Youth Peer Support Worker, Isabella Ferrier said the past 18 months has been a really challenging time for everyone, but particularly for young people.

“As someone who has been on both the receiving and giving sides of mental health services it’s really heartening to know there is now extra support there for us to be able to continue the great work that we do,” Ms Ferrier said.