North Coast Primary Health Network have announced an extra $720,000 of funding to support young people with mental health or substance abuse problems.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The federal government funding will expand Mission Australia’s 360 Outreach program for drugs and alcohol to include Bellingen and Nambucca shires and broaden the program scope to include mental health treatment services.
It’s anticipated that up to 700 young people will be supported through both group and individual interventions.
The expanded service aims to empower young people to better manage their mental health and other drug issues early, reducing the number of young people presenting to Emergency Departments for these issues.
This will reduce the number needing to be admitted to hospitals and improve the care and support that these young people and their carers receive.
360 Outreach is designed to:
- Support 13 to 18 year olds with severe mental ill health or at risk of severe mental ill health to receive treatment at an appropriate service
- Coordinate and share responsibility for young people’s mental health through strong inter-agency and community relationships
- Re-integrate young people into education, training or employment using a recovery-oriented framework
Mission Australia case workers go into schools on a weekly basis and students are identified by teachers or approach case workers themselves for a one-on-one session or to suggest workshop topics for groups of students.
Member for Cowper Mr Luke Hartsuyker said the government was keen to reduce the often devastating impact of drug and alcohol misuse on individuals, families and communities under its Drug and Alcohol Program.
He said it was pleasing that Mission Australia and NCPHN had worked together to vary the original contract to better meet the health needs of the region’s young people.
“Critically, Mission Australia’s 360 Outreach workers are able to work with young people who are struggling with their mental health and alcohol and/or substance misuse early on. When young people receive help in these early stages we can prevent them from needing further care and support them to get their lives back on track,” he said.
Mission Australia’s North Coast Regional Manager for 360 Outreach, Ms Sarah Sherlock, is excited about the expansion of the program. It means that workshops can now be run both in schools and in the broader community as well.
“Case workers can now support young people in the community who might be disengaged from education, and help to link them into appropriate support and services.
“It’s an extra string to our bow and we’re really excited about it. It gives young people a safe place to start to talk about what’s going on for them. We call it 360 Outreach because wherever you start in that circle is okay. We can start to engage and help young people strengthen their connection in the community,” she said.
NCPHN’s Chief Executive, Ms Julie Sturgess, said she was very happy that her organisation had been able to support Mission Australia to extend its work into an area of special need.
“This is what our organisation is all about, meeting the particular health needs of local communities as they are identified. I’m very pleased to know that these 13 to 18 year olds experiencing both substance misuse and mental health issues can now link up with Mission Australia’s skilled case workers to receive the support they need.”
Anyone can refer themselves to 360 Outreach. Simply email: outreach@missionaustralia.com.au or phone 02 6658 7835.
